Bernd Borchard Named EULEX’s Third Chief

Bernd Borchardt of Germany was appointed on Tuesday as new head of the EU’s rule-of-law mission in Kosovo, known as EULEX.The appointment was made by the EU’s Political and Security Committee. “Borchardt, from Germany, will take up his duties on February 1, 2013. He will succeed Xavier Bout de Marnhac, who had been in the post since October 15, 2010”, a press release read.

Borchard will be EULEX’s third head of mission.

French Yves de Kermabon was the first appointee when the mission started operating in Kosovo in 2008.

The mission was launched to assist and support the authorities in the area of the rule of law, with a specific focus on the judiciary.

EULEX was reconfigured in 2012, when staff were cut by about 25 per cent to a maximum of 1,250 international and 1,000 local staff.