International Steering Group for Kosovo

The International Steering Group for Kosovo[a] (ISG) was an organization formed pursuant to the Ahtisaari Plan concerning the Kosovo status process. It was set up to guide Kosovo's democratic development and promote good governance, multi-ethnicity and the rule of law.

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The group was responsible for appointing and overseeing the International Civilian Representative for Kosovo (ICR).[1] The ICR was the "final authority in Kosovo regarding interpretation" of the Plan and had the "ability to annul decisions or laws adopted by Kosovo authorities and sanction and remove public officials whose actions he/she determined to be inconsistent" with the Plan.[2][3] The European Union Special Representative (EUSR) for Kosovo (appointed by the Council of the European Union) was re-appointed by the ISG as the ICR.[1]

The 2008 Kosovo declaration of independence formally "accept[ed] fully the obligations" of the Ahtisaari Plan.[4] It had its inaugural meeting on Thursday February 28, 2008. The group has been declared "illegal" by Serbia and condemned by Russia.[5][6]

On 10 September 2012, the International Steering Group had its final meeting[7][8] and formally ended its supervision,[9]

With immediate effect, the CSP no longer exists as a separate and superior legal power, and the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo now constitutes the sole basis for the country’s legal framework.

and Kosovo became responsible for its own governance.[10]

Members

There are 25 countries which were members of the Steering Group, 15 of which were at its formation with ten others joining later.[11] Every country in the group recognized Kosovo's declaration of independence.

The draft Ahtisaari Plan originally defined the ISG as composed of:[12]

The ISG held that "one of the criteria for becoming member of ISG was recognition [of Kosovo’s independence]."[11] The Group was composed of 20 EU member states and five non-EU countries.[13]

See also

Notes
a.   ^ Kosovo is the subject of a territorial dispute between the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of Serbia. The Republic of Kosovo unilaterally declared independence on 17 February 2008, but Serbia continues to claim it as part of its own sovereign territory. The two governments began to normalise relations in 2013, as part of the 2013 Brussels Agreement. Kosovo is currently recognized as an independent state by 97 out of the 193 United Nations member states. In total, 112 UN member states recognized Kosovo at some point, of which 15 later withdrew their recognition.

References
  1. Letter dated 26 March 2007 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the Security Council, Addendum, Comprehensive Proposal for the Kosovo Status Settlement (PDF), United Nations Security Council, 26 March 2007, article 12.1, archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-10-09, An International Steering Group (ISG) comprising key international stakeholders shall appoint an International Civilian Representative (ICR), and will seek United Nations Security Council endorsement of the appointment. The ICR and the European Union Special Representative (EUSR), appointed by the Council of the European Union, shall be the same person.
  2. Letter dated 26 March 2007 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the Security Council, Addendum, Comprehensive Proposal for the Kosovo Status Settlement (PDF), United Nations Security Council, 26 March 2007, article 12.3, archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-10-09
  3. Letter dated 26 March 2007 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the Security Council (PDF), United Nations Security Council, 26 March 2007, para. 11 of Annex
  4. Individual members of the Assembly of Kosovo (17 February 2008), 2008 Kosovo declaration of independence, 3. We accept fully the obligations for Kosovo contained in the Ahtisaari Plan, and welcome the framework it proposes to guide Kosovo in the years ahead.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  5. "Kosovo Steering Group enrages Serbia". Press TV. 2008-02-29. Retrieved 2008-03-09.
  6. "Russia protests Kosovo steering group establishment". RIA Novosti. 2008-03-03. Retrieved 2008-03-09.
  7. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-10-22. Retrieved 2013-01-06.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. "Ending of supervised independence 10 September 2012". International Civilian Office. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  9. Sputnik (10 September 2012). "International Steering Group Ends Kosovo Supervision".
  10. "Sixteenth and final meeting of the International Steering Group for Kosovo" (PDF). International Civilian Office. 10 September 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  11. "New States Join Kosovo's Supervisory Body". Balkan Insight. 2008-05-21. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  12. Letter dated 26 March 2007 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the Security Council, Addendum, Comprehensive Proposal for the Kosovo Status Settlement, Annex IX, International Civilian Representative (PDF), United Nations Security Council, 26 March 2007, article 4.1, archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-10-09
  13. "ICO KOS - ICO KOS homes and real estate".
  14. "UNPO: Kosova: Membership of International Organisations the Next Step".
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