AbstractThe European Union (EU) has been actively involved in peacebuilding in Kosovo since 1999. This article examines the EU’s post-conflict reconstruction activities in Kosovo in the aftermath of Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence, with particular emphasis on the track record of the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) and its involvement in Security Sector Reform. The article focuses on the nexus between the implementation of the local ownership principle and the local perceptions and legitimacy of EULEX. It offers an analysis of the obstacles and challenges faced by the mission.