[Portrait] Eucap Nestor. A diplo replaces an admiral

(BRUSSELS2) French admiral Jacques Launay, who has commanded the European mission to strengthen maritime capabilities (EUCAP Nestor) since its creation (difficult), will leave his position in a few days (Monday probably). Club readers were already informed of this (read: Changing course at Eucap Nestor?). And a French diplomat, good knowledge of the region, should replace him. According to our information, it should be Etienne de Poncins, currently French ambassador in Nairobi. His name is not completely unknown in Brussels and the region. Etienne was a member of the secretariat of the European Convention, which resulted in the European Constitution, aka the Treaty of Lisbon; and he is the author of a small work "The Treaty of Lisbon in twenty-seven keys" to read for those who want to have an informed opinion on the new Treaty. Press advisor within the Permanent Representation of France to the European Union (September 2003-March 2005), he was then director of the cabinet of the Minister for European Affairs Claudie Haigneré (March-June 2005) then Catherine Colonna (June 2005-May 2007). Then he left for Bulgaria as ambassador (2007-2010) before landing in Nairobi (with Kenya and the UN).

A graduate of ENA (Jean Monnet promotion) in 1990 and a degree in history at Paris Sorbonne in 1985, Etienne de Poncins entered the doors of the Quai d'Orsay in February 1990, as Editor in the European Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Affairs foreign. He had initial cabinet experience with Alain Lamassoure, as technical advisor to the then Minister Delegate for European Affairs (April 1993 - June 1995). He spent his first stay at the Permanent Representation to the EU, in particular in charge of relations with Mediterranean countries (June 1995 - January 1999) then moved to the French Embassy in Warsaw as First Advisor (January 1999 - February 2002). .

Comment: the choice of a diplomat to head a civilian crisis management mission may be surprising. This is not a first. The German ambassador, H. Haber, headed the European observation mission in Georgia (EUMM Georgia). And the specificity of the EUCAP Nestor mission, which extends over several countries in the Indian Ocean, calls for all the talent of a diplomat, because it is necessary to juggle the interests and customs of very different countries.