Brussels (The Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The European Council designated the latest EU Special Representatives for Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Great Lakes Region, Kosovo*, and the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia, and expanded the appointments of three others.
What Are Johan Borgstam’s Responsibilities in the Great Lakes Region?
The EU Council nominated Johan Borgstam as the EUSR for the Great Lakes Region. Mr Borgstam will take up his responsibilities on 1 September, with an initial declaration of 12 months.
Mr Borgstam is a Swedish ambassador with extensive federal and EU experience across a wide range of positions. He has performed as the Head of the EU Delegation to Ethiopia, as well as delegate to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya and Greece.
As EUSR for the Great Lakes Region, Mr Borgstam will keep the High Representative in the performance of the EU’s foreign policy objectives in the Great Lakes Region, in line with the EU Council decisions of 20 February 2023. He will contribute to creating a stronger, more comprehensive and more strategic cooperation with the countries in the region, maintaining close contact also with key provincial organisations and fora, such as the African Union and the East African Community, as well as the UN, the International Financial Institutions, and non-state actors when relevant.
How Will Magdalena Grono Contribute to the South Caucasus and Georgia?
The EU Council also designated Magdalena Grono as EUSR for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia. Ms Grono advances Toivo Klaar whose tenure of over 6 years comes to an end on 31 August. She will take up her responsibilities on 1 September 2024 for an initial term of 12 months.
As the new EUSR, Ms Grono will persist in the work of her predecessors, contributing to the enactment of the EU foreign policy objectives in the region. She will contribute to the friendly settlement of conflicts, including the situation in Georgia and the normalisation process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, in tight coordination with the UN and the OSCE. She will encounter the main interested actors concerning the region and will develop contacts with governments, parliaments, other essential political actors and civil society, promoting and facilitating cooperation on regional themes of common interest.
How Will Aivo Orav Promote Stability in Kosovo?
The new EUSR in Kosovo* will be Aivo Orav, an Estonian delegate with a comprehensive national and EU background across a wide range of functions. He will take up his obligations on 1 September 2024 for an initial term of two years, succeeding Mr Tomáš Szunyog, who has been in the post since 2020.
Mr Orav is nowadays Estonia’s Permanent Representative to the EU, and previously he acted as Head of EU Delegations to Montenegro and North Macedonia. Mr Orav will recreate a leading role in promoting a stable, friendly, democratic and multi-ethnic Kosovo which cooperates with the area. He will also keep Kosovo’s European perspective and rapprochement with the EU, and observe, assist and facilitate improvement on political, economic and European priorities.
How Does Luigi Soreca Plan to Advance EU Objectives in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Mr Luigi Soreca was designated as the EUSR for Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) succeeding Mr Johann Sattler, whose appointment of 5 years comes to an end on 31 August 2024. He will take up his responsibilities on 1 September 2024 for an initial period of two years.
As of spring 2022, Mr Soreca has been the EU Special Envoy for the External Dimension of Migration, performing at the European External Action Service in Brussels. He was formerly the Head of the EU Delegation to Albania from 2018 to 2022. His mandate will be to provide continued progress in the Stabilisation and Association Process, with the purpose of a stable, viable, peaceful multi-ethnic and united BiH, collaborating peacefully with its neighbours on the path towards membership of the EU. He also advocates the implementation of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in BiH.
