Representatives of the United Nations and the European Union have signed a document designating the responsibilities of the new EU police and security mission in Kosovo.

The memorandum of understanding, signed Monday in Pristina, follows last month's decision by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to move ahead with reconfiguring the organization's mission in the area.

Vuk Jeremic (file photo)

Both Serbia and Russia have strongly opposed the plans. Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic told reporters in Belgrade Sunday that the plan still does not have the formal approval of the Security Council, Russia, or the Serbian government.

The United Nations has administered Kosovo since 1999 when NATO airstrikes drove Serbian forces from the region.

Kosovo's declaration of independence in February included plans for the European Union to take over policing.

Serbia has asked the the U.N. General Assembly to back Serbia's request for a ruling from the International Court of Justice on the legality of Kosovo's independence.

Kosovo and its ethnic Albanian majority split from Serbia in February. About 45 countries, including the United States and most of the European Union, have recognized an independent Kosovo. Close Serbian ally Russia, which has veto power on the Security Council, has not.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP.