Soon new EU special representatives (update)
(BRUXELLES2) Some time ago, we wrote "race in the process of extinction or renewal", today we can undoubtedly lean towards this second way. Two special representatives are in the process of being renewed and two other positions created.
Two renewals and one confirmation
According to concordant information, the 27 ambassadors of the political and security committee (PSC) seem to have agreed on the renewal and the new mandate of the special representatives in the South Caucasus and in the Middle East on the peace process. Member States were requested to provide nominations. The post on the peace process represents a strategic interest which it is useless to detail. While the special representative in the South Caucasus should also be responsible for monitoring the peace negotiations in Georgia. Until now, it was the special representative in Central Asia, the Frenchman Pierre Morel who performed this function.
The current ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Peter Sorensen, should also receive the double role of special representative shortly.
Two new positions: South Mediterranean and Horn of Africa
Two other special representatives are in the process of being recruited to new posts. The mandate for a special representative in the Southern Mediterranean, covering from the Maghreb to the Arabian peninsula, in other words an "Arab revolutions" gentleman/madam is being discussed among the ambassadors and should quickly - or so we hope - be approved. *" There is currently no agreement at COPS - explained a senior European diplomat on Friday. But in order to speed up the process, the High Representative has also asked the Member States to submit candidatures. »
As for the mandate of Special Representative for the Horn of Africa - which is the oldest of the future RS - it still has to be approved by the High Representative before being presented to the Member States.
A new use or a reorganization
The High Representative has - it seems - rediscovered the usefulness of a function which can be of variable modularity, between the roving super-ambassador and the miss dominici discreet, between diplomacy and politics, having a direct link with both the High Representative and the Member States. Even if those around him deny any disinterest. Lady Ashton has always found this function essential and useful one of his relatives assured me. But what " what worried him about the functioning of the special representatives (Nb: old way) was that they lived in orbit, autonomy, did a little what they wanted. Needed a bit of a turnaround. You could say: it's done...
Read also:
- EU Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina soon to be appointed
- An Italian appointed as EU special envoy to Kosovo? (Shift)
- EU Special Representative: race on the verge of extinction or renewal? (Shift)
(*) Updated Friday morning
