Details of HS|Haavisto’s name came up in speculations for the position of EU special representative for the Western Balkans.
The greens Member of Parliament and former Minister of Foreign Affairs Pekka Haaviston the name has emerged in speculations as the next EU special representative to handle the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina and other regional issues in the Western Balkans.
According to Helsingin Sanomat, Finland is willing to put Haavisto on the job.
Haavisto’s name has appeared as one possible candidate in the local in the media inter alia Danish diplomat by Peter Sørensen alongside. Sørensen has worked, for example, as the EU’s special representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Former President of Slovenia Borut Pahor has in turn told of his own willingness to work.
It is about a high EU mission. The special representatives support the work of the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs.
Appointment will be done by the future High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas on the assumption that the task would remain unchanged under him. Outgoing High Representative Josep Borrell continued the current Special Representative Slovakian Miroslav Lajčák through until the end of January 2025.
According to the message sent by the assistant, Haavisto, who is currently on a business trip, has nothing to comment on the matter.
Haavisto has previously acted as the EU’s special representative for Sudan in connection with negotiations on the Darfur peace agreement. In the Balkans, he has worked for UNEP, the UN environmental program.
of the EU special representatives promote EU policies and issues related to certain regions and countries that the EU is particularly concerned about or interested in.
Representatives of the governments of EU countries can present and support candidates for the positions of special representatives.
Currently, Finland has one task as a special representative. Former head of Finland’s permanent representation in Geneva Terhi Hakala appointed EU Special Representative for Central Asia in 2021.
Kosovo and Serbia have been holding talks on the normalization of their relations since 2011. Serbia has not recognized Kosovo’s independence. Kosovo declared independence in 2008.
The EU has supported the process between the countries, to which the task of the special representative in the Western Balkans is related.
The goal of the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina is to reach a comprehensive and legally binding agreement on the normalization of relations between the two countries.
To the area the situation has been unstable recently.
Relationships normalization has been a prerequisite for the countries to join the EU.
Serbia applied for EU membership in December 2009. Accession negotiations between the EU and Serbia began in January 2014.
Kosovo applied for EU membership in 2022. It is considered a possible candidate country.
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