EEAS: High Representative Kaja Kallas announces senior nominations

Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission (HRVP) announced today the following appointments for senior positions in the European External Action Service (EEAS):

Ms. Kajsa OLLONGREN as Secretary General for the EEAS. Ms. Ollongren has extensive experience from European and national public service, having served as the Netherlands’ Minister of Defence, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and previously to that having been the Netherlands’ top civil servant. She is currently serving as the EU Special Representative for Human Rights.

She will take up her duties on 1 September 2026.

Mr. Matti MAASIKAS as Deputy Secretary General for Geoeconomics and Interinstitutional Issues. Mr. Maasikas’ experience from both national and EU diplomacy includes posts such as the EU Ambassador to Ukraine, Estonia’s Deputy Minister as well as Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as Estonia’s Permanent Representative to the EU. He is currently serving as Managing Director for Europe and Central Asia, while acting as the Deputy Secretary-General in the EEAS. 

He will take up his duties on 1 September 2026.

Mr. David CVACH as Deputy Secretary General for Peace, Security and Defence. Mr. Cvach brings experience combining European and security policy from various civil servant posts in the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including Director General for the European Union and Adviser to the French President for the Middle East. Mr Cvach currently serves as France’s Permanent Representative to NATO. 

He will take up his duties on a date to be determined.