EULEX Chief in Kosovo Xavier de Marnhac released on Tuesday that he would terminate his office as the chief of the EU mission in mid-June, noting that Kosovo will be on the right track so long as its institutions and the society are continuing to pursue the principles and values the EU is promoting.

EULEX is entering a new stage this summer, after the recently adopted Strategic Revision, and High EU Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton agreed that de Marnhac's mandate relevant to the mission would end at the same time, de Marnhac said and added that he fully supports the decision.

He stated that the year of 2011 was marked by challenges.

De Marnhac deeply believes that EULEX would have been in a better position right now if it could help Kosovo on its path thanks to the important recent steps EULEX backed. He added that this would be possible because of the important partnerships EULEX has developed and because of the commitment of many EULEX international and local officials.

In the release, de Marnhac pointed out that he was very honoured to hold office as EU representative and head its greatest and most complex mission in charge of joint security and defence policy since 2010.