Will the diplomatic service lose its Europe/Central Asia director? (Shift)
(BRUSSELS2) The victory of the social democrats in Slovakia could have a direct implication on the diplomatic service (EEAS). Miroslav Lajcak (Lajcak), current director of department Europe and Central Asia, is expected to take the lead in Slovak diplomacy. Robert Fico, the new Prime Minister (SMER), would indeed like to set up a government with a fairly broad base, with recognized personalities, and not just party members. Miroslav Lajcak has the advantage of already being known to the new Slovak leader. He was, in fact, its Minister of Foreign Affairs (in 2009) before leaving for the European External Affairs Service (EEAS).
Rather than a departure from Brussels, it is a return to Bratislava. Lajčák has extensive experience, which is not marked politically. Posting in several embassies (in particular in Moscow, Tokyo and Belgrade), he was chief of staff to the Minister of Foreign Affairs until 1994 of Jozef Moravčík, the first Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovakia (from the VPN movement "people against violence”, equivalent of the Civic Forum in Prague, then member of the HZDS the conservative party of V. Meciar). He also served as High Representative of the UN and the EU in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2007-2009. His name had even been put forward, for a moment, to be the Slovak representative to the European Commission (in 2009).
The Balkan policy is cited everywhere as an example of the success of the European diplomatic service and more generally of the European Union. It will then be necessary to find "operational solutions" for his replacement, assures the spokesperson of the Commission Pia Ahrenkilde, specifying that he has not received an express request.
(Updated March 14) The departure for Bratislava was confirmed to B2 by someone close to the director of the department.
