9 hours agoWhen is Lajcak's successor expected to start work on Kosovo-Serbia dialogue?
Periskopi(a year ago)
(a year ago)Peter Sorensen is expected to be the special representative for dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. The decision appears to have been taken by the European Union's high representative for foreign policy and security, Kaya Kallas. Sorensen's name has been sent for approval to the bloc's member states as well. His candidacy will be in order [...]
The decision appears to have been taken by the European Union's high representative for foreign policy and security, Kaya Kallas.
Sorensen's name has been sent for approval to the bloc's member states as well.
His candidacy will be in order day at the EU Political and Security Committee meeting (PSC) where representatives of all member states are.
EU special representatives are appointed by the bloc's top diplomat, but their appointment should also be confirmed by member states in the Council.
Sorensen is expected to be confirmed in the post of emissary for dialogue by the end of this month, so that as early as February, he can begin his mandate.
The current envoy, Lajcak, expires the mandate on 31 January.
Sorensen from Denmark has long diplomatic experience in EU structures. He is currently senior adviser to the EU Foreign Action Service (EEAS) for digital diplomacy.
During his diplomatic career in the EU, Sorensen has exercised several tasks in the Western Balkans. He has served as the EU's special representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina and chief of the EU office in Sarajevo. So has the chief of the European bloc's delegation in Skopje.
Earlier, Sorensen has been working as adviser to both Kosovo and the UN mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), while also being the special representative of the EU high representative in Serbia. In the Balkans, he has also worked on the Organisation for Security and Co-operation mission in Europe (OSBE) in Croatia.
His experience from the region is said to have also been one of the arguments why Kaya Kallas has decided to be Lajcak's successor.
Otherwise, during Lajcak's nearly five-year term, Kosovo and Serbia have reached agreement on the road to normalising reports.
The agreement, which has not been signed, is legally binding for the parties, the bloc has said. The EU has accused Kosovo and Serbia of failing to implement the pact, saying it will affect the journey of the two states towards European integration.
The dialogue on normalisation of reports between Kosovo and Serbia, mediated by the European Union, has started in 2011. Several agreements have been reached during the process, but few have been implemented on the ground.
