25 new ambassadors for the EU. The 2011 rotation named

(BRUSSELS2) Expected for some time, the "2011 rotation" of EU ambassadors ended today. However, this is only part of the expected appointments, some recruitments are still in progress. There are 8 women out of 25 appointments (i.e. one third). This is not yet the expected parity but is undoubtedly much higher than the composition of the diplomatic corps in the majority of European states. 9 ambassadors come from the European institutions (2 from the Commission and 7 from the diplomatic service) and 16 from the Member States. There are about fifteen nationalities.

The French are catching up with their imbalance

The French, very badly off in the first appointments in 2010, whether in delegation or in units, are "catching up" with 7 promoted (including 3 from the diplomatic service). There are thus 4 French diplomats: Jean-Maurice Ripert in Turkey (a real politician, former sherpa of Lionel Jospin and Michel Rocard when they were prime ministers and former chief of staff of Bernard Kouchner when he was secretary of state at the Humanitarian action) ; Aurelia Bouchez (who was until recently at NATO as Deputy Secretary General for Political and Security Affairs); Jean-Michel Dumond (current French Ambassador to Nigeria); Alain Holleville (current French Ambassador to Niger). And three French people already present in the European circuit: Laurence Argimon-Pistre (current EU ambassador to the OECD); Abdoul M'Baye in Fiji (already present as Deputy Head of EU Delegation in Fiji); Jean-François Cautain (who comes from the political coordination division of the diplomatic service).

In terms of nationalities, follow (in order) the Italians (3 named), the British (2), the Czechs (2), the Greeks (2), 1 Austrian, 1 German (deputy), 1 Dane, 1 Spanish, 1 Hungarian, 1 Irish (deputy), 1 Dutch, 1 Portuguese, 1 Romanian. Not all are represented. No Belgians or Luxembourgers, Baltics or Poles.

Nb: I know... It is not very politically correct to examine these appointments from the angle of nationality. But this is how it is examined, in each embassy and in each capital, to verify the balance of nationalities, the European Holy Grail.

On the crisis zone side

We can note the appointment of the French Aurélia Bouchez in Kazakhstan, Jean-Michel Dumond in Congo DRC and the Czech Tomas Ulincy in Sudan (former Czech ambassador to Syria and former ambassador to the PSC of the EU). At the African Union, a Briton from the Commission, Gary Quince (director of ACP countries at DG DevCo and former head of delegation in Kenya), has been appointed, replacing the Belgian Koen Vervaeke. At the UN in New York, it is the current Austrian permanent representative, Thomas Mayr-Harting who has been appointed.

Some appointments have been postponed, particularly in Syria (a new deadline for applications has started, none of the shortlisted candidates having passed the oral interview with the High Representative) or in Kosovo.

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