Thewesternbalkans
According to numerous media reports, including the European Western Balkans, a Danish diplomat Peter Sørensen can be selected for the position of a new EU Special Representative for the Western Balkans with a special mission – the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue. EU institutions have confirmed that the selection process for the successor of Miroslav Lajčák is underway.
Peter Sørensen is a Danish diplomat, with three decades of work experience in the Western Balkans including political advisor to the European Community observer mission in the former Yugoslavia (1995-1996), personal representative of the EU High Representative in Belgrade (2006-2010), head of the EU delegation in Skopje (2010-2011), head of the EU Delegation and special representative to BiH (2011-2014).
Brussels-based media claim that High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas will choose between Peter Sørensen and former Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto, but that it is more likely that Peter Sørensen will take office because of its Balkan experience. Kallas’ choice must be approved by the EU member states.
Comments: Miroslav Lajčák, former Foreign Minister of Slovakia, was appointed for the first time as EU Special Envoy for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue in April 2020. In the summer 2024, his term of office was extended until 31 January 2025.
The role of the EU Special Envoy for the Western Balkans never became clear during the performance of these functions by Miroslav Lajčák. The influence of EU High Representative Borrell was so strong that Lajčák only implemented Brussels’ directives. If he had applied, or rather if he had been allowed to apply at least a little of his knowledge in the Balkans, it would not have come to the awkward situations in which Brussels insists that there is an agreement on the normalisation of relations between Serbia and Kosovo, as well as an application that are not recognised by either Belgrade or Pristina. Whoever his successor is, more can hardly be expected.
Foto: Foreign and Commonwealth Office
