COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

 

Press material Friday, 26 July 2024

● Council of the EU   26/07/2024 23:55 | Press release | Joint press release - European Union and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States join forces to implement outcomes of the 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States   In the spirit of the Samoa Agreement, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, the European Union (EU) and members of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) look forward to working closely and constructively to implement the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS, a key outcome of the SIDS4 Conference, held in Antigua and Barbuda on 27-30 May 2024. The Samoa Agreement provides a framework to drive global initiatives and build consensus on matters of global importance and shared interest. This enhanced cooperation covers key priorities for SIDS, including environmental sustainability, climate resilience, ocean governance, sustainable management of natural resources, and support for inclusive and sustainable blue and green economic growth, including through private sector development. The OACPS and EU welcome the closer cooperation between SIDS, the EU’s Outermost Regions and Overseas Countries and Territories, who share some common characteristics and specificities. The OACPS and the EU also look forward to working closely with SIDS ahead of upcoming multilateral events, including the upcoming UN Summit of the Future, the Rio Conventions’ Conferences of Parties, the 3rd UN Ocean Conference and the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development. The OACPS and the EU welcome the development of a Multidimensional Vulnerability Index, recognising that many sustainable development challenges and vulnerabilities are insufficiently reflected in common national indexes such as GDP and GNI per capita. The OACPS and the EU encourage all development institutions to factor these vulnerabilities in their work. The OACPS and the EU support the international efforts to reform the International Financial Architecture and multilateral development banks to allow them to address global challenges more effectively, building on the roadmap of the Paris Pact for People and Planet, the Bridgetown Initiative, and work in other multilateral fora, including the G20 International Financial Architecture Working Group, International Financial Institutions and Multilateral Development Banks. Background Objectives of SIDS4 – The fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4) was held from 27 to 30 May 2024 in St John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, under the overarching theme of "Charting the course toward resilient prosperity". The Conference assessed SIDS’ progress towards the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals, and resulted in an intergovernmentally agreed political outcome document, the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS). EU support to SIDS – The EU and its member states together constitute the largest donor to the SIDS, providing more than €1.2 billion in the form of bilateral Official Development Assistance, as well as contributions channelled through multilateral organisations, in 2022. Under the Global Gateway strategy, the EU and its member states, in a Team Europe approach, partner with SIDS through investments in digital, environment, climate and energy, transport, health, education and research. In addition, as of December 2022, the EU channels to the SIDS through the European Investment Bank €3.47 billion in the form of credit lines to local credit institutions. The EU also funds a €35 million programme of support for African, Caribbean and Pacific SIDS and coastal countries, including the Bio space programme in the Caribbean, the Bio space programme in the Pacific, and support to the Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund in the Western Indian Ocean. Samoa Agreement 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States (United Nations) Samoa agreement (background information)

Press material Friday, 26 July 2024

● Council of the EU   26/07/2024 14:09 | Press release | Stability and growth pact: Council launches excessive deficit procedures against seven member states   Today the Council adopted decisions establishing the existence of excessive deficits for Belgium, France, Italy, Hungary, Malta, Poland and Slovakia. In addition the Council established that Romania, which is under the excessive deficit procedure since 2020, has not taken effective action to correct its deficit and therefore the procedure should remain open.  The deficit-based excessive deficit procedure aims to ensure that all member states return to or maintain discipline in their governments’ budgets, and avoid running excessive deficits. Ultimately, the goal is to maintain low government debt or reduce high debt to sustainable levels.  Member states must comply with budgetary discipline on the basis of criteria and reference values set in the EU Treaties: their deficit should not exceed 3% of their gross domestic product (GDP) and their debt should not exceed 60% of their GDP. All member states have to respect these Treaty reference values.  If an excessive deficit occurs in a member state, the aim of the excessive deficit procedure is to prompt its correction by putting member states under enhanced scrutiny and providing recommendations for them to take effective action to correct the deficit.  Next steps Towards the end of the year, the Council will be invited to adopt, on a recommendation from the Commission, recommendations addressed to the member states to take effective action to correct their deficit within a given time period. The recommendations may contain a corrective budgetary path, expressed in numerical terms, and a deadline. The Commission is expected to present recommendations for Council recommendations around November, at the same time as it intends to submit the European Semester Autumn package.  This year, exceptionally, the timing of recommendations to member states in excessive deficit procedure to take effective action will be aligned with the provisions of the EU’s reformed economic governance framework. Under the new rules, in force since 30 April, member states will prepare medium-term fiscal structural plans in the autumn, setting out their expenditure paths and their priority reforms and investments for the next 4-7 years.  The objective is to align the Council recommendations under the excessive deficit procedures with those under the medium-term fiscal-structural plans.  Background Based on reported and confirmed data for the year 2023, all member states which are now subject to an excessive deficit procedure ran, in 2023, a general government deficit that exceeded the Treaty reference value: Italy (-7.4%) Hungary (-6.7%) Romania (-6.6%) France (-5.5%) Poland (-5.1%) Malta (-4.9%) Slovakia (-4.9%) Belgium (-4.4%) After a four-year break due to the activation of the general escape clause between 2020 and 2023 following the Covid-19 pandemic, the Commission prepared on 19 June a report under Article 126(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU). The report identified 12 member states that ran a government deficit exceeding the Treaty reference value of 3% or were at risk of exceeding the Treaty reference value, in 2023. The report proposed the opening of a deficit-based excessive deficit procedure for seven member states. The Economic and Financial Committee provided its opinion within the following two weeks.  On 8 July 2024, the Commission proposed to the Council decisions establishing the existence of excessive deficits for seven member states and a decision stating that Romania, which is under the excessive deficit procedure since 2019, has not taken effective action to correct the situation.  The Council, at its meeting of 16 July 2024, exchanged views on the proposals. The Committee of Permanent Representatives decided, on 24 July, to launch a written procedure for the formal adoption of the decision, which was completed successfully. Today’s adoption means that the excessive deficit procedures are now formally launched. Council decision on the existence of an excessive deficit in Belgium Council decision on the existence of an excessive deficit in France Council decision on the existence of an excessive deficit in Hungary Council decision on the existence of an excessive deficit in Italy Council decision on the existence of an excessive deficit in Malta Council decision on the existence of an excessive deficit in Poland Council decision on the existence of an excessive deficit in Slovakia Council decision establishing that no effective action has been taken by Romania in response to the Council Recommendation of 18 June 2021 Outcome of the written procedure Excessive deficit procedure (background information) The European Semester explained (background information) Economic governance framework (background information)

Press material Friday, 26 July 2024

● Council of the EU   26/07/2024 12:34 | Press release | Sanctions against terrorism: Council renews the EU Terrorist List and designates a new entity   The Council decided today to add the entity “The Base” to the EU Terrorist List. The Base is an organisation of right-wing extremists involved in terrorist acts, which was founded by Rinaldo Nazzaro in 2018. The sanctions are effective as of today. Following its listing, The Base is subject to the freezing of its funds and other financial assets or economic resources in EU member states. It is also prohibited for EU operators to make funds and economic resources available to the organisation. The Council today also renewed the list of persons, groups and entities subject to restrictive measures with a view to combatting terrorism, delisting one deceased person and maintaining the rest unchaged. As a consequence, there are currently 15 persons and 22 groups and entities subject to the restrictive measures in force. The relevant legal acts have been published in the Official Journal of the European Union. Background The EU Terrorist List, i.e. the sanctions regime set out in Common Position 2001/931/CFSP, is separate from the EU regime implementing UN Security Council resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) and targeting Al-Qaida and ISIL/Da'esh. The EU may also apply restrictive measures autonomously to ISIL/Da'esh and Al-Qaida and persons and entities associated with or supporting them. Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2055 of 26 July 2024 implementing Article 2(3) of Regulation (EC) No 2580/2001 on specific restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities with a view to combating terrorism, and repealing Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/329 Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/2056 of 26 July 2024 updating the list of persons, groups and entities covered by Common Position 2001/931/CFSP on the application of specific measures to combat terrorism, and repealing Decision (CFSP) 2024/332 Consolidated text: Council Common Position of 27 December 2001 on the application of specific measures to combat terrorism (2001/931/CFSP): 21 February 2024 EU terrorist list (background information)

Press material Friday, 26 July 2024

● Council of the EU   26/07/2024 12:24 | Press release | Council appoints new EU Special Representatives for Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Great Lakes Region, Kosovo*, and the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia, and extends the mandates of three others   Today the Council appointed four new EU Special Representatives (EUSR) for Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), the Great Lakes Region, Kosovo*, and the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia. Great Lakes Region  The Council appointed Johan Borgstam as the EUSR for the Great Lakes Region. Mr Borgstam will take up his duties on 1 September, with an initial mandate of 12 months. Mr Borgstam is a Swedish diplomat with extensive national and EU experience across a wide range of positions. He has served as the Head of the EU Delegation to Ethiopia, as well as ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya and Greece. As EUSR for the Great Lakes Region, Mr Borgstam will support the High Representative in the implementation of the EU’s foreign policy objectives in the Great Lakes Region, in line with the Council conclusions of 20 February 2023. He will contribute to building a stronger, comprehensive and more strategic partnership with the countries in the region, maintaining close contact also with key regional organisations and fora, such as the African Union and the East African Community, as well as the United Nations, the International Financial Institutions, and non-state actors when relevant. CV of Johan Borgstam South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia The Council also appointed Magdalena Grono as EUSR for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia. Ms Grono succeeds Toivo Klaar whose tenure of over 6 years comes to an end on 31 August. She will take up her duties on 1 September 2024 for an initial period of 12 months. As new EUSR, Ms Grono will continue the work of her predecessors, contributing to the implementation of the EU foreign policy objectives in the region. She will contribute to the peaceful settlement of conflicts, including the crisis in Georgia and the normalisation process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, in close coordination with the UN and the OSCE. She will engage with the main interested actors regarding the region and will develop contacts with governments, parliaments, other key political actors and civil society, encouraging and facilitating cooperation on regional themes of common interest. Ms Grono, a Czech national, currently serves as Chief Diplomatic Adviser to the President of the European Council, Charles Michel. She has worked on foreign policy and conflict resolution issues for the past 25 years, including in high-level diplomatic posts for the EU as well as in think-tank capacities, with a strong emphasis on the former Soviet space and the South Caucasus in particular. Before joining President Michel's Cabinet, she was a foreign policy adviser to former President of the European Council Donald Tusk. Previously, she was the Europe and Central Asia Director at International Crisis Group. CV of Magdalena Grono Kosovo* The new EUSR in Kosovo* will be Aivo Orav, an Estonian diplomat with extensive national and EU experience across a wide range of positions. He will take up his duties on 1 September 2024 for an initial period of two years, succeeding Mr Tomáš Szunyog, who had been in the post since 2020. Mr Orav is currently Estonia’s Permanent Representative to the EU, and previously he served as Head of EU Delegations to Montenegro and North Macedonia. Mr Orav will play a leading role in promoting a stable, peaceful, democratic and multi-ethnic Kosovo which cooperates with the region. He will also support Kosovo’s European perspective and rapprochement with the EU, and monitor, assist and facilitate progress on political, economic and European priorities. CV of Aivo Orav Bosnia and Herzegovina Mr Luigi Soreca was appointed as the EUSR for Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) succeeding Mr Johann Sattler, whose mandate of 5 years comes to an end on 31 August 2024. He will take up his duties on 1 September 2024 for an initial period of two years.  As of spring 2022, Mr Soreca has been the EU Special Envoy for the External Dimension of Migration, working at the European External Action Service in Brussels. He was previously the Head of the EU Delegation to Albania from 2018 to 2022. His mandate will be to ensure continued progress in the Stabilisation and Association Process, with the aim of a stable, viable, peaceful and multi-ethnic and united BiH, cooperating peacefully with its neighbours on track towards membership of the EU. He also supports the implementation of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in BiH. CV of Luigi Soreca Furthermore, the Council today adopted a series of decisions extending the existing mandates of the following EUSRs: Mr Miroslav Lajčák, the EUSR for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and other Western Balkans regional issues, had his mandate extended until 31 January 2025. He was first appointed on 2 April 2020 Ms Emanuela Claudia Del Re had her mandate as EUSR for the Sahel extended until 30 November 2024. She was first appointed on 21 June 2021 Ms Annette Weber had her mandate as EUSR for the Horn of Africa extended for two years, until 31 August 2026. She was first appointed on 21 June 2021 Background The EU Special Representatives are proposed by the High Representative and appointed by the Council to promote the EU's policies and interests in specific regions and countries, and provide the EU with an active political presence in those areas. As of today, eleven EUSRs support the work of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell. These include the Special Representatives mentioned above, as well as the EUSRs for Central Asia, the Middle East Peace Process, Human Rights, and the Gulf region. * This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence. EU Special Representatives (EEAS website)

Press material Friday, 26 July 2024

● Council of the EU   26/07/2024 12:18 | Press release | Democratic Republic of the Congo: EU lists nine individuals and one entity   Today, the Council imposed restrictive measures on nine individuals and one entity responsible for acts that constitute serious human rights violations and abuses in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and for sustaining the armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the Eastern DRC.  The EU listed two leaders of the March 23 Movement/Congolese Revolutionary Army (M23/ARC), a non-governmental armed group operating in the Eastern DRC, namely its executive secretary, Benjamin Mbonimpa, and Brigadier-General Justin Gacheri Musanga.  Today's listings also include the deputy Commander Pierre Celestin Rurakabijem and Commander Gustave Kubwayo of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda - Forces Combattantes Abacunguzi (FDLR-FOCA).  Both M23/ARC and FDLR-FOCA sustain the armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the DRC, in particular through inciting violence. In addition, they are responsible for serious human rights abuses, including killings, sexual violence and attacks on civilians, as well as child recruitment. The EU also listed a Commander of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), Amigo Kiribige, due to the extreme level of violence against civilians carried by this armed group.  The spokesperson and a commander of Collectif des Mouvements pour le Changement-Forces de Défense du Peuple’ (CMC-FDP), an armed group active in Eastern DRC and part of the so-called ‘Wazalendo’ or ‘Volontaires pour la Défense de la Patrie’ (VDP) were also sanctioned.  VDP combatants are systematically engaged in kidnappings for ransom, arbitrary detentions and executions, the use of child combatants, illegal taxes and logging. Colonel Augustin Migabo of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) is also listed. Finally, the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC), a politico-military movement created in Kenya but operating in Eastern DRC and openly associated with several non-governmental armed groups, including March 23 Movement/Congolese Revolutionary Army (M23/ARC) is the sanctioned entity, as well as its political leader, Corneille Nangaa Yobeluo. Altogether, EU restrictive measures related to human rights violations and electoral obstruction in the DRC now apply to a total of 31 individuals and one entity. Those designated are subject to a travel ban and an asset freeze. Furthermore, EU citizens and companies are forbidden from making funds available to them. The relevant legal acts have been published in the Official Journal of the EU. Background EU autonomous individual restrictive measures in view of the situation in the DRC were adopted by the Council for the first time in 2016 in response to serious human rights violations and the obstruction of the electoral process. On 5 December 2022, the Council decided to amend the designation criteria to allow for the application of individual restrictive measures against natural or legal persons, entities or bodies that sustain, support or benefit from the armed conflict, instability or insecurity in the DRC, as well as those responsible for inciting violence, or exploiting the armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the DRC, including through the illicit exploitation and trade of natural resources. Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2065 of 26 July 2024 implementing Regulation (EC) No 1183/2005 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Council Implementing Decision (CFSP) 2024/2064 of 26 July 2024 implementing Decision 2010/788/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC): Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the escalation of hostilities in the eastern part of the country, 4 March 2024

Press material Friday, 26 July 2024

● Council of the EU   26/07/2024 23:55 | Press release | Joint press release - European Union and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States join forces to implement outcomes of the 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States   In the spirit of the Samoa Agreement, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, the European Union (EU) and members of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) look forward to working closely and constructively to implement the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS, a key outcome of the SIDS4 Conference, held in Antigua and Barbuda on 27-30 May 2024. The Samoa Agreement provides a framework to drive global initiatives and build consensus on matters of global importance and shared interest. This enhanced cooperation covers key priorities for SIDS, including environmental sustainability, climate resilience, ocean governance, sustainable management of natural resources, and support for inclusive and sustainable blue and green economic growth, including through private sector development. The OACPS and EU welcome the closer cooperation between SIDS, the EU’s Outermost Regions and Overseas Countries and Territories, who share some common characteristics and specificities. The OACPS and the EU also look forward to working closely with SIDS ahead of upcoming multilateral events, including the upcoming UN Summit of the Future, the Rio Conventions’ Conferences of Parties, the 3rd UN Ocean Conference and the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development. The OACPS and the EU welcome the development of a Multidimensional Vulnerability Index, recognising that many sustainable development challenges and vulnerabilities are insufficiently reflected in common national indexes such as GDP and GNI per capita. The OACPS and the EU encourage all development institutions to factor these vulnerabilities in their work. The OACPS and the EU support the international efforts to reform the International Financial Architecture and multilateral development banks to allow them to address global challenges more effectively, building on the roadmap of the Paris Pact for People and Planet, the Bridgetown Initiative, and work in other multilateral fora, including the G20 International Financial Architecture Working Group, International Financial Institutions and Multilateral Development Banks. Background Objectives of SIDS4 – The fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4) was held from 27 to 30 May 2024 in St John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, under the overarching theme of "Charting the course toward resilient prosperity". The Conference assessed SIDS’ progress towards the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals, and resulted in an intergovernmentally agreed political outcome document, the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS). EU support to SIDS – The EU and its member states together constitute the largest donor to the SIDS, providing more than €1.2 billion in the form of bilateral Official Development Assistance, as well as contributions channelled through multilateral organisations, in 2022. Under the Global Gateway strategy, the EU and its member states, in a Team Europe approach, partner with SIDS through investments in digital, environment, climate and energy, transport, health, education and research. In addition, as of December 2022, the EU channels to the SIDS through the European Investment Bank €3.47 billion in the form of credit lines to local credit institutions. The EU also funds a €35 million programme of support for African, Caribbean and Pacific SIDS and coastal countries, including the Bio space programme in the Caribbean, the Bio space programme in the Pacific, and support to the Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund in the Western Indian Ocean. Samoa Agreement 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States (United Nations)

Press material Friday, 26 July 2024

● Council of the EU   26/07/2024 12:24 | Press release | Council appoints new EU Special Representatives for Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Great Lakes Region, Kosovo*, and the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia, and extends the mandates of three others   Today the Council appointed four new EU Special Representatives (EUSR) for Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), the Great Lakes Region, Kosovo*, and the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia. Great Lakes Region  The Council appointed Johan Borgstam as the EUSR for the Great Lakes Region. Mr Borgstam will take up his duties on 1 September, with an initial mandate of 12 months. Mr Borgstam is a Swedish diplomat with extensive national and EU experience across a wide range of positions. He has served as the Head of the EU Delegation to Ethiopia, as well as ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya and Greece. As EUSR for the Great Lakes Region, Mr Borgstam will support the High Representative in the implementation of the EU’s foreign policy objectives in the Great Lakes Region, in line with the Council conclusions of 20 February 2023. He will contribute to building a stronger, comprehensive and more strategic partnership with the countries in the region, maintaining close contact also with key regional organisations and fora, such as the African Union and the East African Community, as well as the United Nations, the International Financial Institutions, and non-state actors when relevant. CV of Johan Borgstam South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia The Council also appointed Magdalena Grono as EUSR for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia. Ms Grono succeeds Toivo Klaar whose tenure of over 6 years comes to an end on 31 August. She will take up her duties on 1 September 2024 for an initial period of 12 months. As new EUSR, Ms Grono will continue the work of her predecessors, contributing to the implementation of the EU foreign policy objectives in the region. She will contribute to the peaceful settlement of conflicts, including the crisis in Georgia and the normalisation process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, in close coordination with the UN and the OSCE. She will engage with the main interested actors regarding the region and will develop contacts with governments, parliaments, other key political actors and civil society, encouraging and facilitating cooperation on regional themes of common interest. Ms Grono, a Czech national, currently serves as Chief Diplomatic Adviser to the President of the European Council, Charles Michel. She has worked on foreign policy and conflict resolution issues for the past 25 years, including in high-level diplomatic posts for the EU as well as in think-tank capacities, with a strong emphasis on the former Soviet space and the South Caucasus in particular. Before joining President Michel's Cabinet, she was a foreign policy adviser to former President of the European Council Donald Tusk. Previously, she was the Europe and Central Asia Director at International Crisis Group. CV of Magdalena Grono Kosovo* The new EUSR in Kosovo* will be Aivo Orav, an Estonian diplomat with extensive national and EU experience across a wide range of positions. He will take up his duties on 1 September 2024 for an initial period of two years, succeeding Mr Tomáš Szunyog, who had been in the post since 2020. Mr Orav is currently Estonia’s Permanent Representative to the EU, and previously he served as Head of EU Delegations to Montenegro and North Macedonia. Mr Orav will play a leading role in promoting a stable, peaceful, democratic and multi-ethnic Kosovo which cooperates with the region. He will also support Kosovo’s European perspective and rapprochement with the EU, and monitor, assist and facilitate progress on political, economic and European priorities. CV of Aivo Orav Bosnia and Herzegovina Mr Luigi Soreca was appointed as the EUSR for Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) succeeding Mr Johann Sattler, whose mandate of 5 years comes to an end on 31 August 2024. He will take up his duties on 1 September 2024 for an initial period of two years.  As of spring 2022, Mr Soreca has been the EU Special Envoy for the External Dimension of Migration, working at the European External Action Service in Brussels. He was previously the Head of the EU Delegation to Albania from 2018 to 2022. His mandate will be to ensure continued progress in the Stabilisation and Association Process, with the aim of a stable, viable, peaceful and multi-ethnic and united BiH, cooperating peacefully with its neighbours on track towards membership of the EU. He also supports the implementation of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in BiH. CV of Luigi Soreca Furthermore, the Council today adopted a series of decisions extending the existing mandates of the following EUSRs: Mr Miroslav Lajčák, the EUSR for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and other Western Balkans regional issues, had his mandate extended until 31 January 2025. He was first appointed on 2 April 2020 Ms Emanuela Claudia Del Re had her mandate as EUSR for the Sahel extended until 30 November 2024. She was first appointed on 21 June 2021 Ms Annette Weber had her mandate as EUSR for the Horn of Africa extended for two years, until 31 August 2026. She was first appointed on 21 June 2021 Background The EU Special Representatives are proposed by the High Representative and appointed by the Council to promote the EU's policies and interests in specific regions and countries, and provide the EU with an active political presence in those areas. As of today, eleven EUSRs support the work of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell. These include the Special Representatives mentioned above, as well as the EUSRs for Central Asia, the Middle East Peace Process, Human Rights, and the Gulf region. * This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence. EU Special Representatives (EEAS website)