European Union Special Representative

The European Union Special Representatives (EUSR) are emissaries of the European Union with specific tasks abroad. While the EU's ambassadors are responsible for affairs with a single country, Special Representatives tackle specific issues, conflict areas or regions of countries. They answer directly to the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, currently Josep Borrell.

Current SRs by region

Europe

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Peter Sørensen took over the position of EUSR in Bosnia and Herzegovina with a mandate from 1 September 2011 until 30 June 2015.[1] His post was de-coupled from the one of High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina (which remained in the hands of Valentin Inzko), aiming at fostering the EU pre-accession strategy for Bosnia and Herzegovina.[2] However, in November 2014, Sørensen became Head of the EU Delegation in Geneva, leaving the EUSR BiH post vacant.[3] Lars-Gunnar Wigemark was appointed as the EUSR in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1 March 2015 until 31 October 2015.[4] His mandate was extended until 30 June 2018[5] and again until 31 August 2019.[6] Johann Sattler replaced him in 2019, with a mandate from 1 September 2019 to 31 August 2023.[7] His mandate was extended until 31 August 2024.[8] Luigi Soreca is the current Special Representative, serving since 1 September 2024.[9]

Kosovo

Tomáš Szunyog was appointed as Special Representative in Kosovo on 30 July 2020.[10] His mandate runs from 1 September 2020 until 31 August 2023.[11] His mandate was extended until 31 August 2024.[12]

South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia

See also: EU Strategy for the South Caucasus

Toivo Klaar was appointed Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia on 13 November 2017. His mandate was extended until 29 February 2020,[13] and again until 28 February 2021.[14] His mandate was again extended until 28 February 2022,[15] and then again until 31 August 2022,[16] and then again until 31 August 2023.[17] and then until 31 August 2024.[18] Magdalena Grono was appointed Special Representative on 1 November 2024.[19]

Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and other Western Balkan regional issues

On 3 April 2020, Miroslav Lajčák was appointed by the EU Council as Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and other Western Balkan regional issues. His 12-month mandate includes the tasks to achieve comprehensive normalisation of the relations between Serbia and Kosovo, improve good neighbourly relations and reconciliation between partners in the Western Balkans, helping them overcome the legacy of the past, and contribute to the consistency and effectiveness of EU action in the Western Balkans.[20] His mandate runs from 2 April 2020 until 31 August 2022.[21] His mandate was renewed until 31 August 2024.[22]

Asia

Central Asia

Terhi Hakala is the Special Representative for Central Asia.[23] Her mandate is to promote good relations between the EU and central Asian countries and to strengthen stability, cooperation, democracy and respect for human rights in the region. In particular, the EU Special Representative will co-ordinate EU action in central Asia and oversee the implementation of the EU Strategy for central Asia. Her mandate runs from 1 July 2021 to 28 February 2023. Her mandate was extended to 28 February 2025.[24]

Gulf

On 1 June 2023, Luigi Di Maio, former Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, was appointed Special Representative of the European Union for the Persian Gulf.[25] His aims will be to further develop a stronger, comprehensive and more strategic EU partnership with the countries in the Gulf region. He will also contribute to the stability and security of the region by engaging and supporting dialogue and long-term regional solutions with individual Gulf partners and relevant regional organisations.[26] His mandare runs until 28 February 2025.[27]

Middle East

See also: Palestine–European Union relations

Sven Koopmans has been appointed Special Representative for the Middle East peace process. His mandate runs from 1 May 2021 until 28 February 2023.[28] Between 2017 and 2021 "he was a Member of Parliament in the Netherlands, where he was spokesperson on foreign affairs and head of delegation in the NATO Parliamentary Assembly."[29] The mandate of the Special Representative is based on the EU's policy objectives regarding the Middle East peace process, which include a two-State solution with Israel and a democratic, contiguous, viable, peaceful and sovereign Palestinian State living side by side within secure and recognised borders enjoying normal relations with their neighbours in accordance with UN Security Council Resolutions 242, 338, 1397 and 1402 and the principles of the Madrid Conference. His mandate was extended until 28 February 2025.[30]

Africa

Horn of Africa (incl. the region of Sudan)

Annette Weber was appointed Special Representative for the Horn of Africa on 1 July 2021.[31] Her mandate runs until 31 August 2022.[32] Her mandate was extended until 31 August 2024.[33]

Sahel

João Gomes Cravinho was appointed as the Special Representative for the Sahel on 18 November 2024, succeeding Emanuela Claudia Del Re, whose mandate started in June 2021.[34] His initital mandate will run for 21 months, until 31 August 2026.[35]

Global

Human Rights

A long-standing request[36] for a representative that would be in charge of enhancing the effectiveness and visibility of EU's human rights policy, based on the Strategic Framework and Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy (officially adopted on 25 June 2012),[37] led to the creation of the post of the Special Representative of the European Union for Human Rights. The post, which is providing a strong, independent, flexible and sufficiently broad mandate, is aiming to cover fields such as the strengthening of democracy, International justice, humanitarian law and the abolition of the death penalty.

On 26 February 2024, Olof Skoog was appointed as the European Union Special Representative for human rights, with a mandate from 1 March 2024 until 28 February 2026.[38]

Previous SRs

The table below is based on official sources provided by the EU.[39][permanent dead link‍][40][not specific enough to verify]

Scope Representative(s) Term(s)
Afghanistan Klaus-Peter Klaiber 10 December 2001 – 30 June 2002
Francesc Vendrell 1 July 2002 – 31 August 2008
Ettore Francesco Sequi (also for Pakistan from 15 June 2009) 1 September 2008 – 31 March 2010
Vygaudas Ušackas 1 April 2010 – 31 August 2013
Franz-Michael Skjold Mellbin (also EU Ambassador to Afghanistan) 1 September 2013 – 31 August 2017
African Great Lakes Region Aldo Ajello (initially as Special Envoy) 25 March 1996 – 28 February 2007
Roeland van de Geer (nl) 1 March 2007 – 31 August 2011
African Union Koen Vervaeke 6 December 2007 – 31 October 2011
Gary Quince (remains head of the EU Delegation to the AU) 1 November 2011 – 30 June 2014
Bosnia and Herzegovina Lord Ashdown (also High Representative) 3 June 2002 – 31 January 2006
Christian Schwarz-Schilling (also High Representative) 1 February 2006 – 30 June 2007
Miroslav Lajčák (also High Representative) 1 July 2007 – 28 February 2009
Valentin Inzko (also High Representative) 1 March 2009 – 31 August 2011
Peter Sørensen (also EU Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina) 1 September 2011 – 31 October 2014
Lars-Gunnar Wigemark (also EU Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina) 1 March 2015 – 31 August 2019
Johann Sattler (also EU Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina) 1 September 2019 – 31 August 2024
Luigi Soreca (also EU Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina) 1 September 2024 – present
Central Asia Ján Kubiš 28 July 2005 – 5 July 2006
Pierre Morel 5 October 2006 – 30 June 2012
Patricia Flor 1 July 2012 – 30 June 2014
Peter Burian 15 April 2015 – 30 June 2021
Georgia crisis Pierre Morel 25 September 2008 – 31 August 2011
Horn of Africa Alexander Rondos 1 January 2012 – 30 June 2021
Human rights (worldwide) Stavros Lambrinidis 1 September 2012 – 28 February 2019
Eamon Gilmore 1 March 2019 - 29 February 2024
Kosovo Wolfgang Petritsch (Special Envoy) 5 October 1998 – 29 July 1999
Pieter Feith 4 February 2008 – 30 April 2011
Fernando Gentilini 1 May 2011 – 31 January 2012
Samuel Žbogar 1 February 2012 – 31 August 2016
Nataliya Apostolova 1 September 2016[41][42][43] – 31 August 2020[44]
Republic of Macedonia François Léotard 29 June 2001 – 29 October 2001
Alain Le Roy 29 October 2001 – 28 February 2002
Alexis Brouhns 30 September 2002 – 31 December 2003
Søren Jessen-Petersen 26 January 2004 – 30 June 2004
Michael Sahlin 12 July 2004 – 31 August 2005
Erwan Fouéré 17 October 2005 – 31 August 2011
Middle East peace process Miguel Ángel Moratinos 25 November 1996 – 31 May 2002
Marc Otte 14 July 2003 – 28 February 2011
Andreas Reinicke 1 February 2012 – 31 December 2013
Fernando Gentilini 15 April 2015 – 30 June 2018
Susanna Terstal 18 September 2018 – 30 April 2021
Moldova Adriaan Jacobovits de Szeged 23 March 2005 – 28 February 2007
Kálmán Mizsei 1 March 2007 – 28 February 2011
Sahel Michel Reveyrand-de Menthon (fr) 18 March 2013 – 31 October 2015
Ángel Losada Fernández (es) 1 November 2015 – 30 June 2021
South Caucasus Heikki Talvitie 1 July 2003 – 28 February 2006
Peter Semneby 1 March 2006 – 28 February 2011
Philippe Lefort (also for Georgia crisis) 1 September 2011 – 30 June 2014
Herbert Salber (also for Georgia crisis) 1 July 2014 – 15 August 2017
Royaumont Process Panagiotis Roumeliotis
(was already also the coordinator of the process of stability and good-neighbourly relations in Southeast Europe (the Royaumont Process)) 		31 May 1999 – 31 May 2000
Southern Mediterranean Bernardino León 18 July 2011 – 30 June 2014
(Special) Coordinator of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe Bodo Hombach 2 July 1999 – 31 December 2001
Erhard Busek 1 January 2002 – 30 June 2008
Sudan Pekka Haavisto 18 July 2005 – 30 April 2007
Torben Brylle 1 May 2007 – 31 August 2010
Rosalind Marsden (also for South Sudan since 1 August 2011) 1 September 2010 – 31 October 2013
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Felipe González 8 June 1998 – 11 October 1999

References

  1. ^ COUNCIL DECISION 2011/426/CFSP of 18 July 2011 appointing the European Union Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina
  2. ^ "Inzko welcomes nomination of Peter Sørenesen as Head of EU Delegation". BH-news. 30 May 2011. Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 25 September 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  3. ^ "High Representative Catherine Ashton appoints six new Heads of EU Delegation to Japan, UN Geneva, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mozambique, and the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu." EEAS press release. Retrieved 2014-12-04
  4. ^ Council Decision (CFSP) 2015/970 of 22 June 2015 extending the mandate of the European Union Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina
  5. ^ Council Decision (CFSP) 2017/380 of 3 March 2017 extending the mandate of the European Union Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process (MEPP)
  6. ^ Council Decision (CFSP) 2018/908 of 25 June 2018 extending the mandate of the European Union Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina
  7. ^ Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/1193 of 19 July 2021 extending the mandate of the European Union Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina and amending Decision (CFSP) 2019/1340
  8. ^ "Decision - 2023/1516 - EN - EUR-Lex".
  9. ^ "Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/2081 of 26 July 2024 appointing the European Union Special Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina". 26 July 2024.
  10. ^ "Kosovo: Tomáš Szunyog appointed as new EU Special Representative". Council of the European Union (Press release). 30 July 2020. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  11. ^ Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/1194 of 19 July 2021 extending the mandate of the European Union Special Representative in Kosovo (This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.) and amending Decision (CFSP) 2020/1135
  12. ^ "Decision - 2023/1527 - FR - EUR-Lex".
  13. ^ Council Decision (CFSP) 2018/907 of 25 June 2018 extending the mandate of the European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia
  14. ^ Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/254 of 25 February 2020 amending Decision (CFSP) 2018/907 extending the mandate of the European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia
  15. ^ Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/285 of 22 February 2021 amending decision (CFSP) 2018/907 extending the mandate of the European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia
  16. ^ Council Decision (CFSP) 2022/251 of 21 February 2022 amending Decision (CFSP) 2018/907 extending the mandate of the European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia
  17. ^ Council Decision (CFSP) 2022/1237 of 18 July 2022 amending Decision (CFSP) 2018/907 extending the mandate of the European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia
  18. ^ "Decision - 2023/1528 - FR - EUR-Lex".
  19. ^ President of the European Council Charles Michel welcomes the appointment of his Chief Diplomatic Advisor Magdalena Grono as the European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia
  20. ^ "Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue: EU appoints a new Special Representative". Council of the European Union (Press release). 3 April 2020. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  21. ^ Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/470 of 18 March 2021 amending Decision (CFSP) 2020/489 appointing the European Union Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and other Western Balkan regional issues
  22. ^ Council Decision (CFSP) 2022/1240 of 18 July 2022 amending Decision (CFSP) 2020/489 appointing the European Union Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and other Western Balkan regional issues
  23. ^ "Council appoints three new EU special representatives for the Sahel, Central Asia and the Horn of Africa". Council of the European Union (Press release). 21 June 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  24. ^ Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/260 of 6 February 2023 extending the mandate of the European Union Special Representative for Central Asia and amending Decision (CFSP) 2021/1013
  25. ^ Via libera del Consiglio Ue a Di Maio inviato nel Golfo. Il Sole 24 Ore
  26. ^ EU appoints a new Special Representative for the Gulf region. European Council
  27. ^ "Decision - 2023/963 - FR - EUR-Lex".
  28. ^ Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/710 of 29 April 2021 appointing the European Union Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process
  29. ^ "New EU Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process appointed". EU. 29 April 2021.
  30. ^ Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/258 of 6 February 2023 extending the mandate of European Union Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process and amending Decision (CFSP) 2021/710
  31. ^ "Council appoints three new EU special representatives for the Sahel, Central Asia and the Horn of Africa". Council of the European Union (Press release). 21 June 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  32. ^ Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/1012 of 21 June 2021 appointing the European Union Special Representative for the Horn of Africa
  33. ^ Council Decision (CFSP) 2022/1238 of 18 July 2022 extending the mandate of the European Union Special Representative for the Horn of Africa and amending Decision (CFSP) 2021/1012
  34. ^ "Sahel: EU appoints João Cravinho as new Special Representative for the Sahel region". Council of the European Union (Press release). 18 November 2024. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
  35. ^ "Sahel: EU appoints João Cravinho as new Special Representative for the Sahel region". Council of the European Union (Press release). 18 November 2024. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
  36. ^ "Former MEP chosen as EU's new human rights envoy". theparliament.com. Archived from the original on 30 July 2012.
  37. ^ "EU appoints Human Rights chief". 26 July 2012.
  38. ^ "Decision - CFSP - 2024/758 - FR - EUR-Lex".
  39. ^ "About the European External Action Service (EEAS)". EEAS.
  40. ^ "EUR-Lex – Access to European Union law – choose your language". eur-lex.europa.eu.
  41. ^ Council Decision (CFSP) 2016/1338 of 4 August 2016 amending Decision (CFSP) 2015/2052 extending the mandate of the European Union Special Representative in Kosovo (This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.)
  42. ^ Council Decision (CFSP) 2017/348 of 27 February 2017 extending the mandate of the European Union Special Representative in Kosovo (This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244(1999) and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.)
  43. ^ Council Decision (CFSP) 2018/903 of 25 June 2018 extending the mandate of the European Union Special Representative in Kosovo (This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.)
  44. ^ Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/249 of 25 February 2020 amending Decision (CFSP) 2018/903 extending the mandate of the European Union Special Representative in Kosovo (This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 (1999) and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.