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Apr 7 08 1:04 AM



EU Special Representatives (EUSRs)
Representing the EU around the world in key policy areas
EUSR/5
March 2008
The European Union currently has ten Special Representatives (EUSRs) in different regions of the world. The EUSRs promote European Union policies and interests in troubled regions and countries and play an active role in efforts to consolidate peace, stability and the rule of law.
EU Special Representatives support the work of Javier SOLANA, EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), in the regions concerned. They play an important role in the development of a stronger and more effective EU Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and in the EU's efforts to become a more active, 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.
The ten EUSRs currently in office cover the following regions: Afghanistan, the African Great Lakes Region, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Central Asia, Kosovo, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the Middle East, Moldova, the South Caucasus and Sudan. Some EUSRs are resident in their country or region of activity while others are working on a traveling basis from Brussels.
The substance of an EUSR's mandate depends on the political context. EUSRs focus on developing and implementing EU policy in the region. Where applicable, they provide political backing to European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) operations.
EUSRs exercise their duties under the authority and operational direction of the High Representative. They are financed from the CFSP budget section of the EU budget. Member States contribute regularly e.g. by seconding staff members as EUSRs.
The role and the portfolios of the EUSRs have developed considerably since the appointment of Javier Solana as EU High Representative for the CFSP in 1999. The first EUSRs were Aldo Ajello for the African Great Lakes region and Miguel Angel Moratinos for the Middle East peace process, both appointed (as EU "Special Envoys" at that time) in 1996.
An EUSR is appointed by the Council, on the recommendation of the High Representative, through the legal act of a Joint Action, under Article 18 of the EU Treaty.1 Some EUSRs are "double-hatted", for example the EUSR in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), who is also the High Representative for BiH under the Paris/Dayton agreements, the EUSR in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, who also heads the European Commission delegation there, and the EUSR in Kosovo who is also the International Civilian Representative.

Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.
Jeremiah 33:3