EU Pillar organisation

The EU Pillar operates through a number of offices within the Office of the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General (DSRSG), five components, and six economic regulators. The following is a brief overview of the EU Pillar’s organisational structures.

The Office of the DSRSG consists of a:

The Department of Management and Administration (DMA) includes the Budget and Finance Office, the Human Resources Office, the General Services Office, the IT and Communications Office, the Procurement Office, and the EU Pillar Security Unit. Click on cover page (right) to download DMA overview brochure.

The duties and responsibilities of the DMA are to ensure the most efficient overall management of the EU Pillar’s operations, including the following:

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Economic Policy Office (EPO)

The Economic Policy Office promotes Kosovo’sintegration into international economic structures, all in the context of a European vision for its future economic development. The EPO facilitates Kosovo’s external economic relations and supports UNMIK and the Government of Kosovo in building capacities on a wide range of economic policy issues that affect the development of a self-sustainable and competitive market economy.

The work of the EPO is focused on the following:

The EPO will increasingly concentrate on the further development of external economic relations and the facilitation of Kosovo’s integration into regional economic structures, in cooperation with the Government of Kosovo. In order to promote capacity building, special attention will be paid to the involvement of government actors in these activities. Following the transfer of certain economic competencies to the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government (PISG), the EPO now also offers advisory and mediation support to the PISG in relation to private sector development, investment promotion, and economic development planning.

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The Belgrade Office represents the EU Pillar in Serbia and Montenegro. As such, it serves as a focal point for the DSRSG, Kosovo Trust Agency (KTA), UNMIK Customs, Banking and Payment Authority (BPK) and other EU Pillar components in their communication with counterparts in Belgrade.

The Office interacts with representatives of SCG Federal Government and the Government of Serbia ministries and agencies, political parties, interest groups, financial organizations, Kosovo Coordination Centre, EU Member States, embassies and other missions in Belgrade; organises meetings, conferences, exchange of information and various logistics needed for the functioning of the EU Pillar in its relations with Belgrade authorities.

Main focus of activity over the past several years has related to customs, fiscal, privatisation, energy, telecommunication and other issues stemming from Pillar activities, where the Office supports the relevant Pillar components in their actions, helps formulate and promotes EU Pillar policies. The Office also serves as the Claims Registration facility in Belgrade for all KTA-related claims against enterprises under KTA administration. Until now, several thousand claims have been received and the number is growing rapidly due to accelerated pace of privatisation and liquidation processes in Kosovo.

In addition, since the launch of the process of Direct Dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina on practical issues of mutual concern, the Office serves as a secretariat to the Working Groups on Cooperation in the field of Energy, and Transport and Communication. In this capacity, the Office organises the meetings of the working groups, prepares invitations and other correspondence and drafts minutes, organises the logistical support needed for the meetings of the groups, organises various preparatory and follow-up meetings and supports the EU Chairman of both groups, Mr. Joly Dixon, in his interaction with authorities in both Pristina and Belgrade.

The Office also maintains regular contacts with Belgrade authorities related to European integration processes (SAP) in Kosovo and in Serbia and Montenegro, as well as contacts on a range of other issues related to EU Pillar interests and activities.

The Office provides information to and liaises with bilateral and multilateral agencies in Belgrade on all issues under the EU Pillar portfolio, ranging from distribution of materials of interest such as select new regulations and various publications and target briefings, to obtaining visas and clearances for Kosovo participants in various events, both internationally and in Belgrade.The Office establishes and maintains regular contacts with NGOs dealing with Kosovo and European integrations as well as with the associations and institutes dealing with current economic issues in Serbia and Montenegro.

Belgrade Office also monitors the Belgrade media and produces daily overviews of political, legislative, economic, administrative and social developments in SaM relevant to Pillars' work, with special emphasis on Kosovo and European integration process in order to enable EU Pillar to have an insight view on Belgrade's position on relevant issues.

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EU Pillar Controller's Office

The Controller’s Office was established in 2004 to further review and enhance the Internal Control Framework of the EU Pillar. The office incorporates an internal review function that evaluates and reports on the soundness, adequacy and application of systems, procedures and related internal controls at the EU Pillar.

The Controller advises the Pillar’s management on financial, administrative and organisational issues when requested and takes an active stance towards risk assessment and management control. The main objectives of the office are:

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Legal Office (LO)

The Legal Office (LO) provides legal support and advice on issues pertaining to European approximation and oversees legislative developments on matters falling within the mandate of the EU Pillar. The LO advises on the access of Kosovo institutions and Publicly Owned Enterprises to international finance and donor assistance, as well as on international agreements and initiatives that are important for the economic development of Kosovo. In addition, the LO provides advice on the corporate governance and administration of the EU Pillar, as well as on the activities of the EU Pillar’s component offices and independent bodies supported by the EU Pillar.

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The Office of KTA Affairs (OKA) assists the DSRSG in his management of the Kosovo Trust Agency (KTA), both in terms of the DSRSG’s oversight of the Managing Director of the KTA and his capacity as the Chairman of the KTA Board of Directors. OKA also provides support to the Managing Director of the KTA and his two Deputy Managing Directors. The principal functions of the OKA are to provide advice and guidance on KTA policy matters, assist in the management of the business of the KTA Board of Directors, undertake special strategic studies on various issues, develop and coordinate the implementation of strategies pertaining to the KTA, coordinate and implement cross-functional activities, and represent the DSRSG as appropriate.

The Office of KTA Affairs will primarily focus on:

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The Office for News and Communication (ONC) bears responsibility for developing, managing, and communicating the public image of the EU Pillar within and outside of Kosovo. The ONC consults on public strategy matters with the DSRSG. It maintains a close working relationship with local and international media, providing up-to-date information on the work of the EU Pillar. It also coordinates the media work of the EU Pillar’s component offices, monitoring all activities that may have a significant public impact.

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Political Coordination and Reporting Office (PCRO)

The Political Coordination and Reporting Office (PCRO) provides policy advice and information to the DSRSG and the senior staff of the EU Pillar. It also acts as the EU Pillar’s focal point for the two major UNMIK initiatives that guide Kosovo’s progress toward status and assess needs for future arrangements post-UNMIK.

The PCRO, in conjunction with the PISG Ministry of Finance and Economy (MFE), coordinates Standard Five (Economy) of the Standards for Kosovo, preparing regular assessments of the implementation of Standard Five.

At the same time, the PCRO provides the secretariat to the Property and Economy Working Group on Transition under the auspices of the process of assessing technical needs for future international arrangements in a post-UNMIK Kosovo. The working group recommends specific functions and international engagement required in a future Kosovo in partnership with local institutions, the European Commission, the International Monetary Fund, and the United States Agency for International Development, among others.

The PCRO is also responsible for meeting the EU Pillar’s reporting obligations vis-à-vis the European Commission and UNMIK, and produces a number of regular reports on economic developments in Kosovo. In addition, the PCRO collaborates with other units of UNMIK, regarding strategy and various initiatives led by the Office of the SRSG.

The economic regulators active in Kosovo are the:

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For more information, visit the Documentation section of this site.