EU appoints Lajcak as its special representative for Belgrade-Pristina dialogue

Foto: Tanjug/Predsednistvo Srbije

The EU Council has appointed Miroslav Lajcak as EU Special Representative (EUSR) for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and other regional issues in the Western Balkans.

"The tasks of the new EU Special Representative will be to achieve a comprehensive normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo, as well as to improve good neighborly relations and reconciliation between partners in the Western Balkans," the EU Council said.

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They stress in Brussels that the primary task of the new EU Special Representative will be to continue the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.

It is added that Miroslav Lajcak would work on "overcoming the legacy of the past" and on "the consistency and effectiveness of EU activity in the Western Balkans."

The new EUSR will take up his duties immediately, with an initial term of 12 months.

The EU Council recalls that Lajcak was previously served as Slovakia's foreign minister, and president of the United Nations General Assembly (2017-2018).

He was also EU Special Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina from 2007 to 2009.

It is added that as a personal envoy of the EU High Representative, Lajcak negotiated, organized and supervised Montenegro's 2006 referendum on independence.

"EUSRs promote EU policies and interests in specific regions and countries, as well as issues of particular interest or interest to the EU. They play an active role in efforts to consolidate reform, stability and the rule of law ," according to Brussels.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell proposed in February to EU foreign affairs ministers to appoint Miroslav Lajcak as the new Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and the Western Balkans.

The EU currently has nine Special Representatives who support the work of the High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, Josep Borrell.

(Telegraf.rs/Tanjug)