Danish diplomat Peter Sorensen has been confirmed by the European Union ambassadors for the position of the EU’s Special Representative for the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia.
Sorensen was nominated by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, to replace Miroslav Lajčák in this position.
EU foreign ministers will give their final approval on Monday, allowing Sorensen to begin his mandate at the start of February.
Lajčák’s current mandate will end on January 31.
Who is Sorensen?
Sorensen has extensive diplomatic experience within the EU structures. He currently serves as a Senior Adviser in the European External Action Service (EEAS) for digital diplomacy.
Throughout his diplomatic career, Sorensen has held various positions in the Western Balkans. He served as the EU Special Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina and Head of the EU Delegation in Sarajevo. He also served as Head of the EU Delegation in Skopje.
Earlier, Sorensen worked as an advisor in Kosovo with the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and also served as Special Representative for the High Representative of the EU in Serbia.
In the Balkans, he has worked with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) mission in Croatia.
His experience in the region is seen as one of the reasons why Kaja Kallas has chosen him to succeed Lajčák.
Other Candidates for the Post
Former Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto, who also has expertise in the Western Balkans, was another name mentioned for the role.
Additionally, former President and Prime Minister of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, was considered for the role. Last year, he expressed interest in the position but stated in January that he would not run for the post after realizing that it requires more diplomatic expertise than political.
Progress under Lajčák’s Mandate
During Miroslav Lajčák’s nearly five-year tenure, Kosovo and Serbia reached an agreement on the path towards normalizing relations.
The agreement, although not signed, is legally binding for the parties, according to the EU. The EU has accused both Kosovo and Serbia of not implementing the pact, stating that failure to do so would affect both countries’ paths toward European integration.
The dialogue for normalizing relations between Kosovo and Serbia, mediated by the European Union, started in 2011. Several agreements have been reached during the process, but few have been implemented on the ground, according to reports from REL.
