The EU Special Representatives (EUSRs) promote the EU's policies and interests in specific regions and countries and play an active role in efforts to consolidate peace, stability and the rule of law.

The EUSRs support the work of the EU High Representative/Vice President (HR/VP) in the regions concerned. They play an important role in the development of a stronger and more effective EU Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and in the Union's efforts to become a more effective, more coherent and more capable actor on the world stage. They provide the EU with an active political presence in key countries and regions, acting as a “voice” and “face” for the EU and its policies.

Currently, ten EUSRs support the work of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell.

 

EUSR in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Johann Sattler

Mr Johann Sattler is the EU Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina since 1 September 2019. His mandate is to ensure continued progress in the Stabilisation and Association Process, with the aim of a stable, viable, peaceful and multiethnic and united BiH, cooperating peacefully with its neighbours and irreversibly on track towards membership of the Union. He also supports the implementation of the General Framework Agreement for Peace (GFAP) in BiH.

Twitter account: @josattler

 

EUSR for Central Asia

Terhi Hakala

Ms Terhi Hakala is the EU Special Representative for Central Asia since 1 July 2021. According to the mandate, the EU Special Representative focuses on the EU’s continued and comprehensive cooperation with the countries in the region. The cooperation covers a broad range of matters in the following sectors: security, rule of law, environment, water, climate change, education, and human rights with an emphasis on women and girls. In line with the European Strategy for Central Asia, it is also important to promote development of business environment, to stimulate investment and to foster sustainable connectivity.

Terhi Hakala has previously worked as the Permanent Representative of Finland to the UN, WTO and other international organizations in Geneva; Director General of the Department for Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland; Ambassador to India; Head of the OSCE Mission to Georgia; and as Finland’s Roving Ambassador to the South Caucasus. She was most recently Ambassador for Countering Hybrid Threats of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland. She seeks to build upon her long experience to channel strong cooperation in-between the EU and Central Asia region.

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Twitter account: @EUSR_CA

EUSR for the Horn of Africa

Annette Weber

Ms Annette Weber was appointed as EU Special Representative for the Horn of Africa on 1 July 2021. The mandate of the Special Representative is to actively contribute to regional and international efforts to achieve lasting peace, security and development in the region. The Special Representative also aims to enhance the quality, intensity and impact of the EU’s multifaceted engagement in the Horn of Africa.

Ms Annette Weber is a German national with over 25 years of experience in the region having facilitated peace talks at the highest political levels. She has an established track record of advising the UN, the EU and the German government on the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region. She is also a speaker at the Munich Security Conference on regional issues.

Twitter account: @EUSR_Weber

EUSR for Human Rights

Olof Skoog

Mr Olof Skoog took office as EU Special Representative for Human Rights, since 1 March 2024 for an initial period of two years.

The tasks of the Special Representative for Human Rights are to enhance the presence, effectiveness and visibility of EU human rights policy in the EU external actions.

The Special Representative has a broad, flexible mandate, capable of adapting to evolving geopolitical circumstances. The Special Representative works closely with the European External Action Service and other EU institutions, which provide full support to his work.

Mr. Skoog is a Swedish diplomat with extensive national and EU experience across a wide range of positions. Most recently, he was Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations from December 2019 until August 2023.

Twitter account: @OlofBSkoog

EUSR for Kosovo

Tomáš Szunyog

Mr Tomáš Szunyog was appointed European Union Special Representative for Kosovo on 1 September 2020. In order to achieve the policy objectives, the mandate includes the task of offering the EU’s advice and support in the political process and promote overall Union political coordination in Kosovo.

EUSR for the Middle East Peace Process

Sven Koopmans

Mr. Sven Koopmans was appointed EU Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process on 1st May 2021.

The mandate of the EUSR for the Middle East Peace Process is to provide an active contribution to the final settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on a two-state solution, in line with the UNSCR 2334 (2016). The EUSR maintains to this end close contacts with all parties in the peace process as well as with the United Nations and other relevant organisations such as the League of Arab States.

The EUSR supports the work of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, on this issue and maintains an overview of all EU activities linked to the Middle East Peace Process.

Mr. Sven Koopmans was a Member of Parliament in the Netherlands from 2017 to 2021. He previously served as a political and legal advisor in peace and mediation processes under the auspices of the EU, the UN, and other international organisations, including in Cyprus, Kosovo, Mali, Sudan and Syria, among others.

Twitter account: @EUSR_Koopmans

EUSR for the Sahel

Emanuela Claudia Del Re

Ms Emanuela Claudia Del Re took up the duties of EU Special Representative for the Sahel on 1 July 2021. Her mandate is to lead the EU's contribution to regional and international efforts for lasting peace, security and development in the Sahel. She also coordinates the EU's comprehensive approach to the regional crisis, on the basis of the EU Strategy for Security and Development in the Sahel.

Ms Emanuela Claudi Del Re is an Italian national with a long academic career, having conducted extensive research in conflict areas in the Middle East, Central Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. She was a member of the Italian Parliament and served as Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy.

Twitter account: @ecdelre

EUSR for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia

Toivo Klaar

Mr Toivo Klaar was appointed EUSR for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia on 13 November 2017. His mandate is based on the policy objectives of the Union for the South Caucasus in accordance with the existing mechanisms, including the OSCE and its Minsk Group, to prevent conflicts in the region, to contribute to a peaceful settlement of conflicts in the region, including the crisis in Georgia and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, by promoting the return of refugees and internally displaced persons and through other appropriate means, and to support the implementation of such a settlement in accordance with the principles of international law; to engage constructively with the main interested actors regarding the region; to encourage and support further cooperation between Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, and, as appropriate, their neighbouring countries; and to enhance the Union's effectiveness and visibility in the region.

Twitter account: @ToivoKlaar

EUSR for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and other Western Balkan regional issues

Miroslav Lajčák

On 2 April 2020, Mr. Miroslav Lajčák was appointed EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and other Western Balkan regional issues. His appointment is testament to the European Union’s desire to intensify the EU-facilitated Dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, and its engagement in the Western Balkans. As part of his mandate, he works towards achieving comprehensive normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia. He also focuses on improving good neighbourly relations in the Western Balkans and promoting reconciliation, enhancing the EU's visibility and effectiveness through public diplomacy, as well as contributing to the unity, consistency and effectiveness of the EU's action in the Western Balkans.

EUSR for the Gulf Region

Luigi Di Maio

Mr. Luigi Di Maio was appointed as the first EU Special Representative for the Gulf region on 15 May 2023 and he took up his duties on 1 June, with an initial mandate of 21 months.

The EU Special Representative is tasked to further develop a stronger, comprehensive and more strategic EU partnership with the countries in the Gulf region, by supporting the High Representative in the implementation of the foreign policy and security aspects of the EU joint communication on a Strategic Partnership with the Gulf of 18 May 2022 and the related Council conclusions of 20 June 2022.

The EUSR seeks the best ways to contribute to the stability and security of the region by engaging and supporting dialogue and long-term regional solutions with individual Gulf partners and relevant regional organisations. He equally supports and cooperates with the Council and the European Commission to help ensure the consistency of the EU’s external action in the region, and contributes to increase the visibility and understanding of the role of the EU.

Mr. Di Maio served as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy from 2019 to 2022. He held previously the positions of Deputy Prime-Minister, Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Minister of Labour and Social Policies, Vice President of the Chamber of Deputies and Member of the European Union Affairs Committee in the 17th Italian legislature.

Twitter account: @EUSR_Gulf

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