The group's task is to ensure that the territory's independence plan as prepared by ex-Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari is implemented.
Special EU representative in Kosovo, Dutch diplomat Pieter Feith said the steering committee consists of 15 countries: Austria, Belgium, the U.K., Hungary, Germany, Denmark, Italy, Slovenia, the U.S., Turkey, Finland, France, the Czech Republic, Switzerland and Sweden.
The EU has announced plans to deploy a 2,000-strong police, justice and civil administration mission in the Albanian-dominated region, which declared independence from Serbia on February 17, to replace the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK).
The European mission will oversee policing and justice in Kosovo. The police mission will be headed by French General Yves de Kermabon and the International Civilian Office is to be run by Pieter Feith.
Kosovo has been a UN protectorate since NATO bombings ended a conflict between Serb and Albanian forces in 1999.
Kosovo's independence has been recognized by the United States, Australia, Japan and major European countries, but Serbia and Russia have reacted angrily, with Serbia, which sees Kosovo as its historical heartland, recalling its ambassadors from those countries.
Moscow argues that Kosovo's independence will trigger more secessions and that it will block it from joining the UN.
