Squaring the Circle: A Short History of UNMIK’s European Union Pillar, 1999-2008
Squaring the Circle: A Short History of UNMIK’s European Union Pillar, 1999-2008

Summary/Abstract: UNMIK’s European Union Pillar, which was in operation from 1999-2008, provided a unique EU contribution to a United Nations’ peace-building effort. In addition to promoting reconstruction and economic development in Kosovo, the Pillar also had a mandate to build and transfer economic institutions in a way conducive to maintaining peace and stability. Based on the Pillar’s achievements, Kosovo’s development debate is now able to focus on such questions as where to build competitive advantage, and how to improve on its institutions. The Pillar’s experience also provides additional lessons on setting reasonable expectations for economic policy in a post-conflict environment, the trade-off between economic efficiency and political stability, the limits of an early “ownership” approach to development and the pitfalls of institutional handover.

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