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European Union Special Representative

Emissary of the European Union

Emissary of the European Union

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 Kaja Kallas.

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. 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.{{cite web | url = http://www.bh-news.com/en/vijest_det.php?vid=3717&r=1 | title = Inzko welcomes nomination of Peter Sørenesen as Head of EU Delegation | date = 30 May 2011 | work = BH-news | access-date = 25 September 2017 | archive-date = 20 March 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120320091453/http://www.bh-news.com/en/vijest_det.php?vid=3717&r=1 | url-status = bot: unknown

Kosovo

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

South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia

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, and again until 28 February 2021. His mandate was again extended until 28 February 2022, and then again until 31 August 2022, and then again until 31 August 2023. and then until 31 August 2024. Magdalena Grono was appointed Special Representative on 1 November 2024.

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. His mandate runs from 2 April 2020 until 31 August 2022. His mandate was renewed until 31 August 2024.

Asia

Central Asia

Terhi Hakala is the Special Representative for Central Asia. 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.

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. 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. His mandate initially run until 28 February 2025, but, in January 2025, Borrell's successor Kaja Kallas confirmed Di Maio as Special Representative for two more years.

Middle East

Sven Koopmans has been appointed Special Representative for the Middle East peace process. His mandate runs from 1 May 2021 until 28 February 2023. 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." 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.

Africa

Horn of Africa (incl. the region of Sudan)

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

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. His inititial mandate will run for 21 months, until 31 August 2026.

Global

Human Rights

A long-standing request 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), 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.

Previous SRs

The table below is based on official sources provided by the EU.

ScopeRepresentative(s)Term(s)
AfghanistanKlaus-Peter Klaiber10 December 2001 – 30 June 2002
Francesc Vendrell1 July 2002 – 31 August 2008
Ettore Francesco Sequi (also for Pakistan from 15 June 2009)1 September 2008 – 31 March 2010
Vygaudas Ušackas1 April 2010 – 31 August 2013
Franz-Michael Skjold Mellbin (also EU Ambassador to Afghanistan)1 September 2013 – 31 August 2017
African Great Lakes RegionAldo Ajello (initially as Special Envoy)25 March 1996 – 28 February 2007
Roeland van de Geer (nl)1 March 2007 – 31 August 2011
African UnionKoen Vervaeke6 December 2007 – 31 October 2011
Gary Quince (remains head of the EU Delegation to the AU)1 November 2011 – 30 June 2014
Bosnia and HerzegovinaLord 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 AsiaJán Kubiš28 July 2005 – 5 July 2006
Pierre Morel5 October 2006 – 30 June 2012
Patricia Flor1 July 2012 – 30 June 2014
Peter Burian15 April 2015 – 30 June 2021
[Georgia crisis](2008-south-ossetia-war-six-point-peace-plan)Pierre Morel25 September 2008 – 31 August 2011
Horn of AfricaAlexander Rondos1 January 2012 – 30 June 2021
Human rights (worldwide)Stavros Lambrinidis1 September 2012 – 28 February 2019
Eamon Gilmore1 March 2019 - 29 February 2024
KosovoWolfgang Petritsch (Special Envoy)5 October 1998 – 29 July 1999
Pieter Feith4 February 2008 – 30 April 2011
Fernando Gentilini1 May 2011 – 31 January 2012
Samuel Žbogar1 February 2012 – 31 August 2016
Nataliya Apostolova1 September 2016 – 31 August 2020
Republic of MacedoniaFrançois Léotard29 June 2001 – 29 October 2001
Alain Le Roy29 October 2001 – 28 February 2002
Alexis Brouhns30 September 2002 – 31 December 2003
Søren Jessen-Petersen26 January 2004 – 30 June 2004
Michael Sahlin12 July 2004 – 31 August 2005
Erwan Fouéré17 October 2005 – 31 August 2011
Middle East peace processMiguel Ángel Moratinos25 November 1996 – 31 May 2002
Marc Otte14 July 2003 – 28 February 2011
Andreas Reinicke1 February 2012 – 31 December 2013
Fernando Gentilini15 April 2015 – 30 June 2018
Susanna Terstal18 September 2018 – 30 April 2021
Sven Koopmans1 May 2021 – 28 February 2025
Luigi Di Maiotitle=COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2025/443 of 28 February 2025 appointing the European Union Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Processurl=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/443/oj/engaccess-date=2025-06-23website=eur-lex.europa.eu}}
MoldovaAdriaan Jacobovits de Szeged23 March 2005 – 28 February 2007
Kálmán Mizsei1 March 2007 – 28 February 2011
SahelMichel Reveyrand-de Menthon (fr)18 March 2013 – 31 October 2015
Ángel Losada Fernández (es)1 November 2015 – 30 June 2021
South CaucasusHeikki Talvitie1 July 2003 – 28 February 2006
Peter Semneby1 March 2006 – 28 February 2011
Philippe Lefort (also for [Georgia crisis](2008-south-ossetia-war-six-point-peace-plan))1 September 2011 – 30 June 2014
Herbert Salber (also for [Georgia crisis](2008-south-ossetia-war-six-point-peace-plan))1 July 2014 – 15 August 2017
Royaumont ProcessPanagiotis 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 MediterraneanBernardino León18 July 2011 – 30 June 2014
(Special) Coordinator of the Stability Pact for South Eastern EuropeBodo Hombach2 July 1999 – 31 December 2001
Erhard Busek1 January 2002 – 30 June 2008
SudanPekka Haavisto18 July 2005 – 30 April 2007
Torben Brylle1 May 2007 – 31 August 2010
Rosalind Marsden (also for South Sudan since 1 August 2011)1 September 2010 – 31 October 2013
Federal Republic of YugoslaviaFelipe González8 June 1998 – 11 October 1999

References

References

  1. {{CELEX. 32011D0426
  2. "[http://www.eeas.europa.eu/statements/docs/2014/140905_01_en.pdf 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
  3. {{CELEX. 32015D0970
  4. {{CELEX. 32017D0380
  5. {{CELEX. 32018D0908
  6. {{CELEX. 32021D1193
  7. "Decision - 2023/1516 - EN - EUR-Lex".
  8. (26 July 2024). "Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/2081 of 26 July 2024 appointing the European Union Special Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina".
  9. (30 July 2020). "Kosovo: Tomáš Szunyog appointed as new EU Special Representative".
  10. {{CELEX. 32021D1194
  11. "Decision - 2023/1527 - FR - EUR-Lex".
  12. {{CELEX. 32018D0907
  13. {{CELEX. 32020D0254
  14. {{CELEX. 32021D0285
  15. {{CELEX. 32022D0251
  16. {{CELEX. 32022D1237
  17. "Decision - 2023/1528 - FR - EUR-Lex".
  18. [https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2024/09/02/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/ 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]
  19. (3 April 2020). "Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue: EU appoints a new Special Representative".
  20. {{CELEX. 32021D0470
  21. {{CELEX. 32022D1240
  22. (21 June 2021). "Council appoints three new EU special representatives for the Sahel, Central Asia and the Horn of Africa".
  23. {{CELEX. 32023D0260
  24. [https://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/via-libera-consiglio-ue-di-maio-inviato-golfo-AEA89fTD Via libera del Consiglio Ue a Di Maio inviato nel Golfo]. Il Sole 24 Ore
  25. [https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2023/05/15/eu-appoints-a-new-special-representative-for-the-gulf-region/ EU appoints a new Special Representative for the Gulf region]. European Council
  26. "Decision - 2023/963 - FR - EUR-Lex".
  27. [https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2025/01/15/di-maio-riconfermato-inviato-ue-golfo/7837551/ Di Maio riconfermato inviato Ue per il Golfo: rimarrà altri due anni. Kallas: “Lavoro eccellente”. E Meloni non si è opposta]. Il Fatto Quotidiano
  28. {{CELEX. 32021D0710
  29. (29 April 2021). "New EU Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process appointed". EU.
  30. {{CELEX. 32023D0258
  31. (21 June 2021). "Council appoints three new EU special representatives for the Sahel, Central Asia and the Horn of Africa".
  32. {{CELEX. 32021D1012
  33. {{CELEX. 32022D1238
  34. (18 November 2024). "Sahel: EU appoints João Cravinho as new Special Representative for the Sahel region".
  35. (18 November 2024). "Sahel: EU appoints João Cravinho as new Special Representative for the Sahel region".
  36. "Former MEP chosen as EU's new human rights envoy".
  37. (26 July 2012). "EU appoints Human Rights chief".
  38. "Decision - CFSP - 2024/758 - FR - EUR-Lex".
  39. "About the European External Action Service (EEAS)".
  40. "EUR-Lex – Access to European Union law – choose your language".
  41. {{CELEX. 32016D1338
  42. {{CELEX. 32017D0348
  43. {{CELEX. 32018D0903
  44. {{CELEX. 32020D0249
  45. "COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2025/443 of 28 February 2025 appointing the European Union Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process".
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