EULEX Kosovo

On 30 & 31 October, EULEX’s Correctional Unit facilitated a 2-day workshop with the Kosovo Correctional Service to draft an internal rule on staff professional development, a key step toward a sustainable, self-managed in-service training system aligned with European standards.

This year marks 25 years of the Women, Peace & Security Agenda (UNSCR 1325) recognizing women as key agents of peace. 💙

Through our work supporting Kosovo institutions, we strive for gender equality, combat GBV & empower women in the rule of law.

👉 Learn more: tinyurl.com/2whey8ax

🔎 #EULEX observes court procedures & practices, helping to identify & assess where rights can be better guaranteed.

Court monitoring contributes to a better justice ⚖️ system.

2/2 We respect judicial independence.

Monitoring is important to assess if Kosovo rule of law institutions comply with Kosovo law & #HumanRights obligations, without discrimination.

1/2 @eulexkosovo.bsky.social monitors criminal and civil cases. We follow a case from start to finish: from police through to the judgement.

🩸Donate blood, save a life!🩸

Continuing a valued tradition, 32 members of EULEX’s Formed Police Unit and 4 🇮🇹 Carabinieri from the Reserve Formed Police Unit donated blood at Clinical Hospital Centre in Mitrovica North, helping to ensure Kosovo’s hospitals have the vital supplies needed.

Yesterday, EULEX hosted 12 PhD students and their professors from the Hans-Böckler-Foundation.🎓

Mission Press & Public Information Officer presented EULEX’s mandate and work, discussing with the group the Mission’s achievements and challenges over the years.

Barbano congratulated Ambassador Rudolph. on his appointment & thanked him for 🇩🇪 unwavering contribution to EULEX in supporting the rule of law in Kosovo. He also wished him success, looking forward to working closely together.

Today, the EULEX Head of Mission, Giovanni Pietro Barbano, had the pleasure to host the new German Ambassador to Kosovo, Rainer Rudolph.

👧 On this year #GirlChidDay, let us all be reminded of the strength, potential, and resilience of girls everywhere and let us continue to amplify their voices, invest in their leadership and protect their rights.

They explored ways to strengthen support mechanisms 4 women & children in 🇽🇰, making the community safer & more inclusive. EULEX has been in the frontline of the fight against gender-based violence since its deployment, & remains committed to supporting 🇽🇰 against any form of #GBV.

The Women’s Wellness Center in Pejë/Peć is a safe & empowering space for women & children who experienced domestic violence. #EULEX representatives met w/ the shelter's dedicated staff to learn about their work in supporting survivors, promoting gender equality & women’s rights.

On 7–8 Oct 2025, EULEX's Correctional Unit held a workshop with Kosovo Correctional Service to draft new guidelines for prisoner transfers—aiming to reduce unnecessary moves, prevent preferential treatment & ensure placements meet individual needs.

On 2 Oct 2025, #EULEX FPU & RFPU joined KTRBN, the Hungarian Contingent of the NATO-led KFOR mission for joint Crowd & Riot Control training. Officers practiced their skills in civil disturbance management & enhance the procedures necessary to carry out their responsibilities with other int. units.

At CSO-organised discussion Paths to Closure: Families & Societies Facing Legacy of the Missing, our Forensic Medicine Team's Head Luisa Marinho & HR Advisor Valentina Vitali presented forensic anthropology, archaeology & analytical support to search & identify missing persons.

Today, @eulexdhom.bsky.social Emily Rakhorst had the honor to join the solemn commemoration in memory of fallen Kosovo Police’s Sergeant Afrim Bunjaku, killed in the line of duty 2 years ago.

We emphasize the EU’s calls for accountability for those responsible for carrying out this attack!

2/2 ...forming EULEX’s Reserve Formed Police Unit. EULEX Head Giovanni Pietro Barbano presided over today’s official ceremony attended by Ambassadors of EUROGENDFOR contributing states to announce RFPU full operational capability.

1/2 📌We strengthened our capacity to contribute to the security situation in Kosovo through the deployment of EUROGENDFOR from French Gendarmerie Nationale, Italian Carabinieri, Royal Netherlands Marechaussee, Polish Zandarmeria Wojskowa and Portuguese Guarda Nacional Republicana...

Our thoughts are with his family & loved ones, who mourn this tragic loss. Their & our grief is exacerbated by the fact that this crime remains unresolved: whoever took Audrius’ life has not yet been held to account.

We will never stop pursuing justice!

W/ Ambassador-at-Large/Head of the Office of the Embassy of Republic of Lithuania in Skopje, Vilma Dambrauskienė & the Kosovo Police, EULEX Head of Mission Giovanni Pietro Barbano paid respect to Audrius Šenavičius, EULEX Lithuanian Customs Officer, who was killed in the line of duty 12 years ago.

💪 🇵🇱 Welcome to our Formed Police Unit's XXXVIII rotation!

Today, the #EULEX Head of Mission Giovanni Pietro Barbano presided over the welcome ceremony for the 105 Polish Police men & women deployed to EULEX FPU to support 🇽🇰 stability & contribute to the security of all communities.

The Delegation was briefed on our mandate by @eulexdhom.bsky.social Emily Rakhorst & by Senior Management at our HQ.
During their stay, they also visited Mitrovica North where they learned more about Mission’s work on the ground by EULEX Police Advisors North and Coordinator North.

A pleasure hosting a Delegation from the Netherlands Police managing secondment to international Missions.
They were welcomed by EULEX Head of Mission, Giovanni Pietro Barbano, who stressed the cruciality of The Netherlands’ contribution through secondment of highly qualified officers to EULEX.

💡 Great discussion on how #EULEX's monitoring helps foster judicial independence, transparency, accountability & respect for human rights with 14 judges from Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig, visiting the Mission to learn more about its complex mandate in strengthening Kosovo justice system.

The Mission remains committed to advance KCS's professional standards to best address the specific needs & guarantee the rights of all prisoners improving their rehabilitation and reintegration, without discrimination or political interference.

#EULEX Head Giovanni Pietro Barbano had an insightful visit to Pristina Detention Centre & High Security Prison. Together with Caretaker Minister of Justice Blerim Sallahu, KCS Dir. Gen. Ismail Dibrani, & facility directors Barbano discussed progress & EULEX’s unwavering support to KCS. 1/2

2/2 “Judicial independence is one of the cornerstones of the rule of law: independence of judges must be respected by everyone, at all times. Undue interference through personal attacks directly targeting judges and prosecutors performing their duties is always unacceptable.”

1/2 Today, the EULEX Head of Mission, Giovanni Pietro Barbano, stated on X

Delighted to host a 2-day visit from a delegation of the German Department for International Police Missions/Mission Support of the @bmi.bund.de.

Grateful for their vital support to #EULEX over the years, strengthening the rule of law, peace, and stability in Kosovo!

Honored to join our longstanding partners Humanitarian Law Center Kosovo & Missing Persons Resource Center in revealing the memorial Tree of Lives: a space to remember the void left by #missingpersons.
Our commitment to supporting institutions in searching & identifying the missing is unwavering.