Internationale Politikanalyse International Policy Analysis Vedran Džihić and Helmut Kramer Kosovo After Independence Is the EU’s EULEX Mission Delivering on its Promises? „ Kosovo today, despite its declaration of independence, is an»unfinished state«, with only limited sovereignty and divided, de facto, into a Serb north and an Albanian dominated south. Neither UNMIK nor EULEX have so far been able to do anything to prevent the partition of the country. „ Every important macroeconomic indicator points to negative develop­ment, a situation only made worse by the global economic crisis: low eco­nomic growth, a rising trade deficit and high poverty and unemployment rates. Eighteen months of independence have done nothing to ameliorate this catastrophic situation. „ EULEX, in its role as»guardian of democracy and the rule of law«, has only modest achievements to show for its first six months. Closer scrutiny of the objectives, legal mandate and activities of the new EU mission gives rise to the rather sobering realisation that, basically, the previous, failed policy of UNMIK is still being pursued. „ To date, the EU has not been able to take substantial steps to integrate Kosovo in the Stabilisation and Association Process and thereby to estab­lish a real prospect of EU integration. Vague promises of membership will not suffice to get development moving in Kosovo. JULY 2009