B2 The Daily of Geopolitical Europe. News. Files. Reflections. Reports

News Blog Missions Operations Russia Caucasus Ukraine

A Finn takes over from a Frenchman as deputy head of EUMM Georgia

September 18, 201011th May 2018 Nicolas Gros Verheyde

(BRUSSELS2) Finnish Colonel Jussi Saressalo took office on Wednesday as Deputy Head of the European Monitoring Mission deployed in Georgia (EUMM Georgia)
He replaces the French general Gilles Janvier who was there since the beginning of the mission (1), alongside the German diplomat Hansjörg Haber.

A retired colonel in the Finnish army, Saressalo served in several UN missions (Untso Middle East in Damascus, Gaza Strip) or as an adviser in an NGO (IPA). He also served as Balkan peacekeeping adviser to the Finnish Foreign Ministry and to the EU Special Representative in Sudan - Darfur.

This appointment thus maintains the "diplomat-military" couple which marks the direction as well as the composition of this EUMM mission which also has a sensitive "peacekeeping" tone as well as observation.

(1) Read: Story of Georgia 9: interview with Gilles Janvier, deputy director of the mission

(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)

Nicolas Gros Verheyde

Chief editor of the B2 site. Graduated in European law from the University of Paris I Pantheon Sorbonne and listener to the 65th session of the IHEDN (Institut des Hautes Etudes de la Défense Nationale. Journalist since 1989, founded B2 - Bruxelles2 in 2008. EU/NATO correspondent in Brussels for Sud-Ouest (previously West-France and France-Soir).

[Interview] ASPIDES. A purely defensive operation that solves nothing. Forgotten geopolitical issues (Pascal Ausseur, FMES) April 8th
(B2) For Admiral Pascal Ausseur who heads the Mediterranean Foundation for Strategic Studies, the maritime operation launched by the Europeans in the Red Sea and in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait is not entirely justified , nor at
Nicolas Gros Verheyde
[News] In the Red Sea, 68 ships escorted by Aspides. First assessment after seven weeks April 8th
(B2) Eleven attacks have been repelled in the Red Sea since February 23, according to Josep Borrell. Visibly satisfied with the performance of the latest EU maritime operations. The High Representative of the EU
Olivier Jehin
[News] Eurocorps head dismissed. For violation of defense secrecy March 27, 2024
(B2) Polish General Gromadziński is no longer the head of the European Corps. He has just been dismissed from his position and his security clearance has been revoked by the Polish government. With immediate effect. Reason
Nicolas Gros Verheyde
[Portrait] Three new heads of CSDP missions in Georgia, Palestine and Somalia March 26, 2024
(B2) The COPS ambassadors approved this Tuesday, March 26, the appointment of three heads of mission. A French woman in Georgia In Georgia, the appointment of General Bettina Boughani is confirmed, as of
Nicolas Gros Verheyde
[Report] Steadfast Defender 24: the clear message of the return of major NATO maneuvers March 10, 2024
(B2 in Poland) The Allies are engaged in exercises on a scale not seen since the end of the Cold War. 90 soldiers and an entire arsenal engaged in maneuvers crossing numerous countries,
Romain Mielcarek
[Exclusive] Create a special fund dedicated to European defense? An idea to explore 23th February 2024
(B2) Between a European Peace Facility stuck by German difficulties and a tight budget at community level, a third way could emerge to support the rise of the manufacturing industry.
Nicolas Gros Verheyde
[Decryption] Operation EUNAVFOR Aspides officially established (v3) 8th February 2024
(B2 - exclusive) Objective, modes of action, area of operation, commands, budget, coordination, intelligence... the main elements of the new European operation in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden are now known . Text explanations. Validated
Nicolas Gros Verheyde
[Verbatim] Military support for Ukraine. Between Paris and Berlin, like zests of nuance. kyiv as referee? 2th February 2024
(B2) At the end of the European Council, we were able to witness a detailed exchange, via press conferences, between the German Chancellor and the French President. Subliminal messages were passed
Nicolas Gros Verheyde
[Analysis] The semi-failure of the European plan to deliver heavy munitions to Ukraine 31th January 2024
(B2) The goal of delivering one million heavy munitions to Ukraine will not be achieved. It must be recognized. The Europeans have not been able to keep the commitment they made to kyiv. A setback
Nicolas Gros Verheyde