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A new EU Special Representative for Africa

(BRUSSELS2) The 27 have just renewed the mandate of Special Representative / Head of the EU Delegation to the African Union until 30 June 2012. The mandate had already expired since the end of August 2011. But its holder should change. Logical development since its former holder, the Belgian Koen Vervaeke, was appointed as director in charge of the Horn of Africa, southern Africa and the Indian Ocean at the headquarters of the European diplomatic service (SEAE).

A double hat

It is a Briton who could be appointed to this key post, which symbolizes the relations between the two continents. It would be Gary Quince. Appointment there too logical since this official of the Commission was already appointed in August, head of the EU delegation to the African Union in Addis Ababa (as part of the 2011 rotation of EU ambassadors). The two posts — special representative and head of the EU delegation — are normally held by one person. It is even one of the first to have introduced the "double hat" - an experimental system implemented under the time of Javier Solana, aiming where it was possible to have only one representative of the European Union . This was not always without difficulty at the time, as evidenced by the first "feedback".

A British development specialist

Gary Quince is a development specialist. He has been Director for Africa, the Pacific and the Caribbean (ACP) at the European Commission's DG DevCo (Cooperation and Development), since 2005 and was previously posted in Nairobi as Head of Delegation of the European Commission (2001 -204). An economist by training, he joined the European Commission in 1985.

A liaison and influence mandate

The mandate of the special representative obviously reflects the strategic objectives of the European Union with the African Union. Among these objectives is "peace and security" in order to "predict, prevent, manage and resolve conflicts, including through mediation, contribute to efforts to encourage peace and stability and support post-conflict reconstruction work" , human rights and governance.

The special representative thus has the mandate to "closely monitor and report on all important developments at the AU level", of "stay in close contact" and to "facilitate relations and cooperation" with its different organs. But it is also about "strengthen the overall influence of the EU (…) concerning all CFSP/CSDP aspects covered by EU-AU relations, in particular the partnership for peace and security and support for the implementation of the African peace and security architecture"Or"to provide, upon request, advice and assistance towards the building of AU crisis management capabilities".

The Special Representative also has the role of representing the positions and policies of the EU when the African Union plays a major role in a crisis situation "when an EUSR has not been appointed"And"if the Council so decides".

See the decision in the "B2 docs"

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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).

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