What is the U.S. contribution to the Hague Special Court?

The U.S. contribution to the Specialist Chambers in The Hague is primarily focused on funding for employees appointed by state authorities. That's what court spokeswoman Angela Griep told RFE/RL when asked if the institution's funding would be affected after the temporary suspension of U.S. funding.

Griep did not provide information on whether the court's staff, who comes from the United States, is affected by the ruling or not.

U.S. President Donald Trump has frozen international aid for 90 days. The freezing of aid funding is part of the U.S. president's effort to adapt those programs to his foreign policy goals.

But there is no confirmation whether the suspension affects both the Specialist Chambers and the Kosovo Specialist Prosecutor's Office, based in The Hague, Netherlands.

These institutions, also known as the Special Court, investigate alleged crimes committed by members of the Kosovo Liberation Army committed against ethnic minorities and political rivals from January 1998 to December 2000.

Currently, several trials are being conducted in The Hague against former KLA leaders and the court has also issued several condemnatory decisions.

Who is funding the special court?

The special court is funded by the European Union, but also by the third contributing countries, including the United States, Canada, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey.

The Specialist Chambers and Prosecutor's Office currently has a budget of 97.1 million euros, spanning the period from June 15, 2023 to June 14, 2025.

The entire budget is funded by the EU, but other countries also contribute to certain programs.

In this context, the U.S. mainly contributes to funding for some employees, Griep says.

According to the Court's latest annual report, which is out in 2023, the UNITED STATES ranks second, behind the Netherlands – the court's host state – in terms of the number of employees in the Specialist Chambers and Specialist Prosecutor's Office.

Employees appointed by the U.S. to various posts, offer their expertise to the Special Court.

The Specialist Chambers and Prosecutor's Office employ two categories of workers: employees appointed through the state authority (seconded) and contracted employees. But, the Special also contributes to practitioners from EU and other contributing countries.

The U.S. funds its workers who are appointed through state authorities.

At the Special Court, these employees assigned to work in The Hague remain employed in institutions in the United States, mainly in governments, international organizations or law enforcement agencies.

These employees generally, but also depending on the procedures of states for the appointment of personnel, shall serve on the Special Court for at least one year, with the possibility of extension of service.

Their expenses, including salaries, health insurance contributions, travel expenses and other compensations are covered by the state that appointed them.

They are also paid, depending on circumstances, to pay for the perdition.

Among the U.S. employees are specialised judges and prosecutors. The court's vice president is Charles L. Smith III, and the chief prosecutor, Kimberly West, took over the post in 2023.

Judge Smith is also the lead judge in the largest case in the court, the one against former KLA leaders: former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci, former parliament speakers Jakup Krasniqi and Kadri Veseli and former DEPUTY Rexhep Selimi.

According to the data, as of December 31, 2023, 283 persons were employed at the Special Court, out of 30 from the United States. The number of employees appointed by state authorities also increased in 2023, and three of those were from the U.S. and Switzerland.

The funders of the Special Court cover the operating costs of this institution, but also fund certain programs and aspects of the operation. For example, Norway has financed the renovation of the Court building and Switzerland, through a grant, has contributed to the funding of the information program since 2018.