The European Union is already playing an important role in Kosovo. The EULEX Kosovo mission, about to be declared fully operational, will strengthen rule of law in the new political process and will be a key factor for stability in Kosovo, and in the Balkans more widely. EULEX Kosovo is the EU’s biggest civilian mission and the first with executive powers. The mandate consists in monitoring, mentoring and advising the authorities and institutions in Kosovo in the field of rule of law, especially in the police, justice and customs. Judges, prosecutors, police officers and other experts will be collocated with their local counterparts and will assist the institutions, judicial authorities and law en-forcement agencies in their progress towards sustainability and accountability.