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 Catherine Ashton.
Contents |
[edit] Current SRs
[edit] Europe
[edit] Bosnia and Herzegovina
Valentin Inzko was appointed Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina on 11 March 2009. Previously the post, set up in 2002, was held by Lord (Paddy) Ashdown, Christian Schwarz-Schilling and Miroslav Lajčák. His mandate is based on the policy objectives of the EU in BiH, which centre on continued progress in the Dayton Peace Agreement implementation, in accordance with the Office of the High Representative's Mission Implementation Plan, and the Stabilisation and Association Process, aiming at a stable, viable, peaceful and multi-ethnic BiH, cooperating peacefully with its neighbours and irreversibly on track towards EU membership.
The post coincides today with the one of International High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, set up in 1995 immediately after the Dayton Peace Agreement to oversee its civilian implementation.
Peter Sørensen will take over the position of EUSR in Bosnia and Herzegovina as from September 2011. His post should be de-coupled from the one of OHR (which will remain in the hands of Valentin Inzko), and aiming at fostering the EU pre-accession strategy for Bosnia and Herzegovina.[1]
[edit] Kosovo
Fernando Gentilini was appointed as Special Representative in Kosovo for the period from 1 May 2011 to 30 September 2011.[2] The International Steering Group for Kosovo (ISG) appoints the EUSR in Kosovo as the International Civilian Representative for Kosovo (ICR) pursuant to the Ahtisaari Plan.[3] As the ICR, the EUSR for Kosovo is the "final authority in Kosovo regarding interpretation" of the Ahtisaari Plan and has the "ability to annul decisions or laws adopted by Kosovo authorities and sanction and remove public officials whose actions he/she determines to be inconsistent" with the Ahtisaari Plan.[4][5]
[edit] Georgia crisis
Pierre Morel, already EUSR for Central Asia, was appointed Special Representative for the Georgia crisis on 25 September 2008, up until 31 August 2011. His mandate is to help prepare for the international talks to be held under the settlement plan of 12 August 2008, to help establish and represent the EU's position at these talks and to facilitate the implementation of the agreement of 8 August 2008 concluded in Moscow and Tbilisi and of the agreement of 12 August.[6]
[edit] Asia
[edit] Afghanistan
Vygaudas Usackas was appointed European Union Special Representative (EUSR) in Afghanistan from 1 April 2010. His mandate is to contribute, through close liaison with and support for the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Brahmini, to achieving the implementation of the Union's policy in Afghanistan, which includes the implementation of the EU-Afghanistan Joint Declaration; leading the implementation of the EU Action Plan on Afghanistan and Pakistan, in so far as it concerns Afghanistan, thereby working with EU Member States’ representatives in Afghanistan; and supporting the role of the United Nations in Afghanistan with particular emphasis on contributing to better coordinated international assistance.[6]
[edit] Central Asia
Pierre Morel was appointed Special Representative for Central Asia on 5 October 2006, up until 30 June 2012. He is to promote good and close relations between the countries of Central Asia and the EU, contributing to strengthening of democracy, rule of law, good governance and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in Central Asia. He is also considered the eyes and ears of the European Union in the region, coordinating with other relevant partners and international organizations, such as the OSCE.
[edit] Middle East
Marc Otte was appointed Special Representative for the Middle East peace process on 14 July 2003. 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, 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.
[edit] Africa
[edit] African Union
Koen Vervaeke is the Special Representative, and head of the Commission delegation, to the African Union. He was appointed on 6 December 2007. The EUSR is based in Addis Ababa, and his mandate runs until 31 August 2011.[7]
[edit] Great Lakes region
Roeland van de Geer was appointed Special Representative for the African Great Lakes region on 14 February 2007, up until 31 August 2011. His mandate is to focus on stabilisation in the African Great Lakes countries, and particularly on the post-transition phase in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with particular emphasis on the security sector reform and the fostering of democratic institutions. Another important aspect of his work is the consolidation of the democratic process in Burundi as well as ensuring constructive cooperation with Uganda and Rwanda in regional matters.[6]
[edit] Sudan
Rosalind Marsden, formerly UK ambassador to Sudan, is Special Representative for Sudan from 1 September 2010, in particularly dealing with the issue of the independence of Southern Sudan. His mandate covers efforts to achieve a political settlement of the Darfur conflict, to help the implementation of the peace agreement in the Second Sudanese Civil War and to promote dialogue between the ethnic groups concerned. He is to respect the principle of African ownership, and thus defers to the African Union. He will also facilitate the European contribution to the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS I).
[edit] Previous SRs
Below table is based on official sources[8] but some data may be missing. Dates may conflict due to official sources citing dates of appointment rather than dates of handover.
| Country | Representative(s) | Term(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | Klaus Peter Klaiber | 10 December 2001 |
| Francesc Vendrell | 25 June 2002 until 28 February 2009 | |
| Ettore Francesco Sequi | 24 July 2008 until 31 March 2010 | |
| African Great Lakes Region | Aldo Ajello | 25 March 1996 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Lord Ashdown | 11 March 2002 |
| Christian Schwarz-Schilling | 30 January 2006 until 30 June 2007, | |
| Miroslav Lajcák | 18 June 2007 28 February 2009, | |
| Central Asia | Ján Kubiš | 18 July 2005 |
| Kosovo | Wolfgang Petritsch | 30 March 1999 to 29 July 1999 |
| Pieter Feith | 4 February 2008 until 30 April 2011 | |
| Republic of Macedonia | François Léotard | 29 June 2001 29 October 2001. |
| Alain Le Roy | 29 October 2001 until 28 February 2002. | |
| Alexis Brouhns | 30 September 2002 | |
| Søren Jessen-Petersen | 26 January 2004 | |
| Michael Sahlin | 12 July 2004 | |
| Erwan Fouéré | 17 October 2005 until 31 August 2011 | |
| Middle East peace process | Miguel Ángel Moratinos | 25 November 1996 |
| Marc Otte | 14 July 2003 until 28 February 2011 | |
| Moldova | Adriaan Jacobovits de Szeged | 23 March 2005 |
| Kálmán Mizsei | 15 February 2007 until 28 February 2011 | |
| South Caucasus | Heikki Talvitie | 7 July 2003 |
| Peter Semneby | 20 February 2006 until 28 February 2011 | |
| South East Europe | Panagiotis Roumeliotis | 31 May 1999 |
| Bodo Hombach | 29 July 1999 | |
| Erhard Busek | 19 December 2001 | |
| Sudan | Torben Brylle | 19 April 2007 until 31 August 2010 |
| Pekka Haavisto | 18 July 2005 until 30 April 2007 | |
| Yugoslavia | Felipe González | 8 June 1998 until 11 October 1999 |
[edit] References
- ^ BH News
- ^ EU reps
- ^ Letter dated 26 March 2007 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the Security Council, Addendum, Comprehensive Proposal for the Kosovo Status Settlement, United Nations Security Council, 26 March 2007, article 12.1, http://www.unosek.org/docref/Comprehensive_proposal-english.pdf
- ^ Letter dated 26 March 2007 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the Security Council, Addendum, Comprehensive Proposal for the Kosovo Status Settlement, United Nations Security Council, 26 March 2007, article 12.3, http://www.unosek.org/docref/Comprehensive_proposal-english.pdf
- ^ Letter dated 26 March 2007 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the Security Council, United Nations Security Council, 26 March 2007, para. 11 of Annex, http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/retrieveattachments?openagent&shortid=YZHG-6ZNTVS&file=Full_Report.pdf
- ^ a b c Consilium, EUSR
- ^ http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/07/1873&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
- ^ Former Special Representatives
[edit] External links
- Official list of EU Special Representatives
- Exploring EU Foreign Policy, the EUSR, Leuven Catholic University
- Giovanni Grevi, The EU Special Representatives, Chaillot Paper nb. 106, Institute for Security Studies of the European Union, Paris, 2007
- Cornelius Adebahr, Working inside out: what role for Special Envoys in the European External Action Service?, EPC Policy Brief, January 2011
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