Political Situation
The EU has been divided on whether to recognize an independent Kosovo (for individual member states' stances on recognising Kosovo, see map to the right) without international and Serbian approval. The agreement was seen as ensuring the unity of the EU on the question, however the Presidency announced it would not amount to recognition of an independent Kosovo.
The EU has stated its mission will be legally based on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244, which introduced the international rule of Kosovo in 1999. However, the EU force, which was previously planned to be convered by Security council's approval of Ahtisaari proposal, has not received a new U.N. Security Council mandate due to the opposition from Russia. Russia specifically blocked transfer of U.N. facility to the EU mission. Serbia also views the mission as an EU recognition of an independent Kosovo.
In November 2008, the EU accepted the demand of Serbia not to implement the plan of Ahtisaari through EULEX and to be neutral regarding the status of Kosovo. On the other hand EULEX will be accepted by Serbia and the UN Security Council.
The Kosovo Parliament is expected to ratify Kosovo's first bilateral agreement with the EU on September 7, 2012, extending the mandate of the EU rule of law mission, EULEX, till June 2014.
Read more about this topic: European Union Rule Of Law Mission In Kosovo
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