A former member of the DGSE at the head of the Defense Committee of the European Parliament

(BRUSSELS2) Arnaud Danjean could be the next chairman of the European Parliament's "Defence and Security" sub-committee (1). If the information was confirmed, it would mark a new dynamic. Even though he is only 38 years old, Danjean is a fconnoisseur of a number of subjects, both in the field and at the diplomatic level, very useful. It could give the debates on security and defense within the EU a certain vigor and prove to be a worthy successor to Karl Von Wogau (the German from the CDU who left his mark on the commission). But in another style...

Intelligence and Balkan Specialist

Born in February 1971 in Louhans, graduated in political science (in communication), Danjean joined the DGSE at the age of 24 and quickly became a Balkan specialist. A region that he will hardly ever leave, near - in Sarajevo, Pristina, Belgrade - or from afar - in Paris or Geneva.

In particular, he was chief of post in Sarajevo in full negotiation of the Dayton agreements, then in charge of the French embassy in Bosnia-Herzegovina to track recent war criminals (until 1998). In Paris he then worked in the Balkans unit of the Ministry of Defence. He took part in the discussions at Rambouillet on the future of Kosovo and became adviser to Bernard Kouchner in Kosovo (from June 1999). He returned to Paris as Europe and Russia adviser to the director of the DGSE (2000-2002), then to Geneva, to the permanent representation of France to the United Nations (2002-2004) where he dealt with relations with humanitarian and international organizations (ICRC...). Seconded to the European Union, he returned to Kosovo as an adviser to Fernando Gentilini, the personal representative of Javier Solana (EU High Representative for Foreign Policy) in the region. Both will have a car accident, near Mitrovica, rather serious. Gentilini must be evacuated.

Returned to Paris in 2005, Danjean moved to the office of Michel Barnier then Philippe Douste-Blazy as in charge of the Balkans and Afghanistan. He took part in the work of the Kosovo contact group until 2007, until independence. Before going into politics to rub shoulders in his land, the Saône-et-Loire with a tenor of the left, Arnaud Montebourg. Election he loses by 400 votes. In May 2009, he was elected to the European Parliament, carried by the "blue" wave which sent to Strasbourg, around thirty UMP deputies.

Well known in Kosovo

Danjean distinguished himself on two grounds. Bosnia and Kosovo. And all his activity oscillates between shadow and light. In the former Serbian province which had become independent, where he made frequent trips (63 he counted, of a very variable duration between 24 hours and 6 months) he was thus very close to a number of Kosovar intellectuals and several UCK leaders, to whom he was able to lend assistance. At the house of Hashim Thaci (one of the leaders of the UCK, became Prime Minister of independence), he thus had an "open door".

But, an illustration of his talent and his political sense, he managed to maintain a certain confidence in Belgrade, making at the time of independence - as before - numerous comings and goings between the two "capitals". Charming, charming, he did not hesitate to play the whole register of seduction. And there is no doubt that he will still be able to exercise his talent in the European Parliament...

(1) Defense is not a full committee of the European Parliament but a section of the Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET)