MEPs and NGO representatives raised many objections at a hearing before the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament (EP) on Thursday regarding results achieved by the EULEX mission in Kosovo so far.

During the hearing, dubbed “EULEX Kosovo - Current State of Play and Strategic Review,” EU Civilian Operations Commander Hansjorg Haber and EULEX chief Xavier Bout de Marnhac, described the mission as successful and announced its reduction as a result of its effectiveness and the improved capacity of Kosovo's institutions, especially the customs and police services.

A great number of delegates and representatives of civil society organizations who were invited to participate in today's debate did not agree with the evaluation about EULEX success and progress made by Kosovo institutions.

MEP Eduard Kukan, head of the EP delegation for South East Europe, said that EULEX had so far failed to meet the mission's objectives, recalling the case of senior official of Kosovo's ruling party Fatmir Ljimaj, on trial for war crimes and corruption for years, with the proceedings unlikely to end soon.

MEP Doris Pack said that EULEX had betrayed the high expectations from the beginning of the mission's operation, and particularly addressed the situation in northern Kosovo, which she described as a “black hole.”

Haber said that noone was happy when an infamous criminal was released, but stated that EULEX prosecutors and judges were not to be blamed for that.

Witnesses in some cases are dying with a surprising frequency, he admitted, but pinned the responsibility for the shortcomings in the treatment of witnesses to countries that have not sent enough trained police officers to Kosovo and refused to receive the protected witnesses into their territory.

Haber pointed out that the situation in northern Kosovo could not be resolved by force, and that the moves in that direction had proven to be counterproductive so far. The solution should be sought through political and diplomatic means, he added.

When it comes to the investigation into the allegations about kidnappings and illegal trade in human organs in Kosovo, contained in a late 2010 report by Dick Marty, Council of Europe's rapporteur on civil liberties and human rights, Haber said that the investigation conducted by the relevant EULEX special team should be completed within two years from now.