Preserving European Security & Defence Policy Mission Records
The European Union has recently launched an ambitious Rule of Law mission in Kosovo (EULEX). Over 3000 staff will be deployed, making it by far the largest European Security & Defence Policy (ESDP) mission to date. For further information about ESDP missions, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overseas_interventions_of_the_European_Union
The rapid build-up of the EULEX mission, its unique role, and its limited duration present many information management challenges. A Registry & Archives Expert was thus recruited by the European Union Planning Team in Kosovo at an early stage to assist in resolving these issues.
This paper provides an update on initiatives to capture and preserve mission records after the formal launch of EULEX on June 15th 2008. It also raises the visibility of a new type of European organization that until now has not benefitted from the archival and records management wisdom of the participating member states.
•Background to the ESDP mission in Kosovo (mission mandate, deployment timetable, exit plan & organizational structure)
•Establishing Information Governance in a Rule of Law mission (identifying the regulatory framework, security classification, relevant records and information standards, obtaining legal advice, networking within EU archival institutions, developing Standard Operating Procedures, borrowing from establish UN mission RIM standards)
•Results of initial information survey (record legacy from previous missions, paper records, initial electronic records user behaviour)
•Development of an information management strategy (in line with mission objectives, recognising unique factors such a transfer of UNMIK records, in collaboration with ICT and Public Information functions)
•Recruitment of Archive & Registry Office team (hiring international & local records staff to former conflict zones)
•Design of Archive & Registry Service Level Agreement (electronic and manual services, managing shared servers, identification of suitable records storage areas)
•Development and delivery of training programme (gaining a slot on the mandatory mission induction programme, identifying document management officers within each component for further training)
•Building and implementing a Mission File Plan (with a finite mission life, organisational structure vs. functional approach?)
•Exploiting ICT opportunities (Office 2003, Sharepoint vs. Xerox Docushare)
•Lessons learned (what we would do differently, what future missions need)
The European Union has recently launched an ambitious Rule of Law mission iThis paper is in accordance with the conference topics of Standards and Practice and Transformation and Change – and demonstrates the work undertaken to provide a records management template for future ESDP missions.
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S02 Stephen Howard.pdf (.pdf, 940.9 KB)  |
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Stephen Howard, EULEX KosovoStephen Howard graduated in 1991 from the University of Manchester with a degree in Economics & Social Science. He joined Westminster City Council in 1995. As Corporate Records Manager, he successfully prepared the council for Data Protection and Freedom of... more...
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