Two other directors appointed: Balkans and Horn of Africa
(BRUSSELS2) Two experienced men, former special representatives of the EU, have just been appointed (Thursday August 4) by the High Representative of the EU, as directors of the diplomatic service, one for the Horn of Africa, the other for the Balkans.
The Belgian Koen Vervaeke, until now Special Representative and Head of Delegation for the African Union, becomes Director for the Horn of Africa, Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean; the most exposed area at the moment (famine + conflicts + piracy). Born April 22, 1959, graduated in history from the KUL, the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, he began working at the ASLK and joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1987. He worked in the Belgian embassies in Tunis (first secretary), Bujumbura (political adviser) then at the Belgian permanent representation at the UN in Geneva (1995-1999). Afterwards, the "great epic" begins, as spokesperson for Louis Michel (nicknamed Big Loulou) who officiates as Minister of Foreign Affairs. A rather busy period between the arrival of the far right in Austria, the attacks of September 11, the Treaty of Nice, and the activism of his "boss" and the Belgian presidency of the European Union. In 2003, he became adviser on African affairs to the High Representative of the EU (Javier Solana) and head of the Africa unit of the Council of the EU. In December 2007, he was appointed Special Representative and Head of Delegation of the European Commission to the African Union in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia). He is the first leader to inaugurate the double hat (Commission / Council) which has now become the rule with the creation of the European diplomatic service (EEAS).
Italian Fernando Gentilini, becomes the director for the Balkans, Turkey and Western Europe. He still serves as special representative for Kosovo (on an interim basis until the end of September) and will have as his first task to assume the role. As we recently mentioned, he is a serious connoisseur of this region.
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