The European Union has confirmed that the functioning of the Special Court in The Hague is not at risk due to budgetary reasons.
Brussels officials clarified that the United States does not financially contribute to the operating costs of the Specialized Chambers in The Hague.
“The operational expenses of the Kosovo Specialized Chambers and the Office of the Specialist Prosecutor are covered by the European Union, through the budget of the Common Foreign and Security Policy. The U.S. is not contributing to the operational costs of this institution,” a written response from the European Commission’s headquarters stated.
U.S. President Donald Trump had ordered a freeze on federal funds, including halting loans and financial aid, a decision that was suspended two days later.
This decision had raised concerns about the functioning of the Specialized Chambers, where former Kosovo state leaders are being tried.
However, the Specialized Chambers and the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office are operating with funding from the European Union, as well as several other donor countries that support specific programs.
The current annual budget is nearly 100 million euros.
The EU reiterates its importance and support for the work of the Kosovo Specialized Chambers and the Office of the Specialist Prosecutor.
