Within the Justice and Corrections Component, the Case Monitoring Unit conducts robust monitoring of selected cases which covers the entire chain of criminal justice, as well as civil justice cases on property and privatization issues. The Case Monitoring Unit focuses on cases which were dealt with by EULEX under its previous mandate that ended in mid-June 2018 and were later handed over to the local judiciary, as well as other cases, including high-profile cases, war crimes cases, gender-based violence cases, corruption cases, property cases and terrorism cases. The Case Monitoring Unit assesses the functioning of the Kosovo justice system in terms of procedural, legal, and human rights compliance. The assessment is carried out through robust systemic and thematic monitoring of selected cases at the entire chain of the criminal justice system, namely on a police, prosecutorial and judicial level. From June 2018 to 14 June 2025, EULEX’s justice monitors attended 2,840 court sessions in 395 active criminal and civil cases. This robust monitoring resulted in eight reports with findings and recommendations for the Kosovo authorities aimed at addressing the identified shortcomings and at improving the justice system.
In May 2021, the Mission published a special report on the impact of COVID-19 on the rule of law in Kosovo. In 2022, the Mission issued the special report “Assessment of the Handling of Rape Cases by the Justice System in Kosovo” and in 2023, the Mission published the report “Application of Conditional release in Kosovo: Findings and Recommendations”.
The Correctional Unit supports the Kosovo Correctional Service’s (KCS) efforts to develop a professional management team through monitoring, mentoring and advising. This is achieved thanks to a regular and mobile presence by the EULEX correctional experts in all correctional facilities in Kosovo and through numerous meetings with KCS staff. The Correctional Unit also helps the KCS increase its capacities in providing rehabilitation of prisoners, in countering undue interference and preferential treatment of inmates, and in preventing reoffending. Since 2021 EULEX is also supporting the Kosovo Probation Service (KPS).
From June 2018 to 14 June 2025, EULEX Correctional Unit staff have conducted over 1150 field visits to various correctional facilities and to the regional probation offices, had hundreds of meetings with KCS and KPS staff to support the management in addressing strategic issues and supported trainings sessions, workshops and working groups for over 2,600 participants. In addition, EULEX’s Correctional Unit has monitored 109 hospital escorts of high-profile prisoners.
Since its inception, the Mission supports the search and identification of missing persons through its Forensic Medicine Team.
Around 1,590 persons, who were reported missing during the period 1st January 1998 - 31st December 2000, as a consequence of the war in Kosovo during 1998-1999, are still missing. Their families have the right to know the truth. In order for family members of missing persons to realize their right to know the truth, the EULEX Forensic Medicine Team (FMT) has been embedded in the Kosovo Institute of Forensic Medicine (IFM), working alongside local counterparts contributing to the general strengthening of forensic capacities and providing assistance, in particular, through anthropology, archaeology and analytical capability.
EULEX forensic experts continue indeed to work shoulder to shoulder with their local counterparts at the Institute of Forensic Medicine (IFM) and other relevant institutions to shed light on the fate of missing persons related to the Kosovo conflict, regardless of the circumstances of their disappearance, their ethnic, religious or national origin, or any other characteristic.
From the beginning of EULEX’s mandate until 14 June 2025, EULEX has conducted 873 field operations to locate missing persons, including 219 exhumations. The remains of 543 individuals have been identified, including 370 missing persons. In addition, EULEX experts support the IFM in reviewing the unidentified remains at the Pristina morgue.
