Summary: EUHR Solana hosts seminar for EU Special Representatives (17 January 2007: Brussels)
Javier SOLANA, European Union High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), today met his team of Special Representatives for a seminar in Brussels at which they reviewed international developments and outlined priorities for EU foreign policy in the coming months.
Mr SOLANA expressed his appreciation and support for the work of the EU Special Representatives, who promote EU policies and interests in some of the most challenging regions in the world. The EUSRs were also briefed on the latest developments in European Security and Defence Policy.
The European Union currently has nine Special Representatives in different regions of the world.
They support the work of High Representative Solana in the regions concerned and play an active part in efforts to consolidate peace, stability and the rule of law. They play an important role in the development of a stronger and more effective EU common foreign and security policy (CFSP) and in the EU's efforts to become a more active, more coherent and more capable actor.
EU COUNCIL SECRETARIAT FACTSHEET: EU Special Representatives (EUSRs): A voice and face of the EU in crucial areas
The European Union currently has nine Special Representatives (EUSRs) in different regions of the world. The EUSRs promote EU policies and interests in troubled regions and countries and play an active role in efforts to consolidate peace, stability and the rule of law.
EU Special Representatives support the work of High Representative Solana in the regions concerned. They play an important role in the development of a stronger and more effective EU common foreign and security policy (CFSP) and in the EU's efforts to become a more active, more coherent and more capable actor. They provide the EU with an active political presence in key countries and regions, where they are to a large extent a "voice" and a "face" of the EU and its policies.
The nine EUSRs currently in place cover the following regions: the Middle East, the Great Lakes, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Afghanistan, the South Caucasus, Moldova, Central Asia and Sudan. In addition, the EU foresees the appointment of an EUSR in Kosovo as part of the post-status arrangements.1 Some EUSRs are resident in their country/region of activity, while others are working on a travelling basis from Brussels. The first EUSRs were Aldo
Ajello for the African Great Lakes region and Miguel Angel Moratinos for the Middle East peace process, both appointed (as EU "Special Envoys" back then) in 1996. The position of EUSRs has developed considerably since the appointment of Javier Solana as High Representative for CFSP.
An EUSR is appointed by the Council, through the legal act of a Joint Action, under Article 18 of the EU Treaty.2 The substance of an EUSR's mandate depends on the political context. EUSRs focus on developing and carrying out an EU policy in the region. Where applicable, they provide political backing to ESDP (European security and defence policy) operations. EUSRs carry out their duties under the authority and operational direction of the High Representative. They are financed from
the CFSP budget section of the EU budget. Member states contribute regularly e.g. by seconding staff members to EUSRs.
Some EUSRs are "double hatted", for example the EUSR in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), who is the High Representative for BiH under the Paris/Dayton agreements, and the EUSR in the former Yugoslav Republic of Yugoslavia, who also heads the European Commission delegation there.
CURRENT EU SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVES
Aldo Ajello was appointed EU Special Representative for the African Great Lakes Region on 25 March 1996 (in the beginning of his engagement Mr Ajello was acting as Special Envoy). Mr Ajello works closely with the UN, the African Union and with prominent African figures who are assisting the international community's efforts. He maintains constant contact with the governments of the countries in the region. EUSR Ajello played a key political role during the transition in the
Democratic Republic of Congo, in particular with regard to the EU military operation during the election process (EUFOR RD Congo, July-November 2006).
Marc Otte was appointed EU Special Representative for the Middle East peace process on 14 July 2003. His mandate is based on the EU's policy objectives regarding the Middle East peace process. These objectives include a two-State solution with a democratic, viable, peaceful and sovereign Palestinian State living side-by-side with Israel within secure and recognised borders enjoying normal relations with their neighbours. This aim should be reached in accordance with the respective
UN Security Council Resolutions and the principles of the Madrid conference.
Christian Schwarz-Schilling was appointed EU Special Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina on 30 January 2006 (following Lord Ashdown in March 2002). He focuses on implementation of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in BiH, with the aim of a stable, viable, peaceful and multiethnic BiH, cooperating peacefully with its neighbours and irreversibly on track towards EU membership. He promotes EU political coordination in BiH. He provides the EU Force Commander in BiH with
local political advice and provides the Head of the EU Police Mission in BiH with local political guidance as part of his wider responsibilities in the mission's chain of command. He is also the international community's High Representative for BiH under the Paris/Dayton agreement.
Erwan Fouéré was appointed EU Special Representative for the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on 17 October 2005. His mandate is to contribute to the consolidation of the peaceful political process and the full implementation of the Ohrid Framework Agreement, thereby facilitating further progress towards European integration through the Stabilisation and Association Process. He also heads the European Commission's delegation in the country.
Adriaan Jacobovits de Szeged was appointed EU Special Representative for Moldova on 23 March 2005. His mandate is based on the EU's policy objectives in Moldova including to contribute to a peaceful settlement of the Transnistria conflict and to the implementation of such a settlement on the basis of a viable solution, respecting the sovereignty of the Republic of Moldova within its internationally recognised borders and in close coordination with the OSCE. He also seeks to
enhance the effectiveness of border and customs controls and border surveillance activities in Moldova and Ukraine along their common border, with particular focus on the Transnistrian section, notably through an EU Border Mission.
Peter Semneby was appointed EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus on 20 February 2006. His mandate includes the following EU policy objectives in the South Caucasus: assisting Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia in carrying out political and economic reforms; preventing conflicts in the region and contributing to the peaceful settlement of conflicts, including through promoting the return of refugees and internally displaced persons; and encouraging and supporting further
cooperation between States of the region, including on economic, energy and transport issues. Through a support team, he provides the EU with reporting and a continued assessment of the border situation and facilitates confidence-building between Georgia and the Russian Federation.
Francesc Vendrell was appointed EU Special Representative for Afghanistan on 25 June 2002. His mandate is to contribute to implementation of the EU-Afghanistan Joint Declaration and the Afghanistan Compact, as well as relevant UN resolutions. He also supports the pivotal role of the UN in Afghanistan, and the work of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr Tom Koenigs.
Pekka Haavisto was appointed EU Special Representative for Sudan on 18 July 2005. His mandate is based on the EU's policy objectives in Sudan as regards efforts to achieve a political settlement of the conflict in Darfur, to facilitate the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and to promote South-South dialogue, with due regard to the regional ramifications of these issues and to the principle of African ownership. He also contributes to ensuring maximum
effectiveness of the EU's civilian-military action in support of the African Union mission in Sudan (AMIS).
Pierre Morel was appointed EU Special Representative for Central Asia on 5 October 2006. The EUSR contributes to the implementation of the EU's policy objectives in the region, which include promoting good and close relations between the countries of Central Asia and the EU; contributing to the strengthening of democracy, the rule of law, good governance and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; as well as enhancing the EU's effectiveness in the region, including
closer coordination with other relevant partners and international organisations such as the OSCE.
1 An EU team was set up in September 2006 to contribute to preparations for a possible international civilian mission in Kosovo, including an EUSR component.
2 "The Council may, whenever it deems it necessary, appoint a special representative with a mandate in relation to particular policy issues."
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