EU appoints French diplomat as a new Special Representative

The Council appointed Mr. Christophe Bigot as new EU Special Representative (EUSR) for the Middle East Peace Process.

Mr. Bigot’s mandate will be to contribute to the EU objective of having a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East on the basis of a two-State solution, with Israel and a democratic, contiguous, viable, peaceful and sovereign Palestinian State living side by side within secure and recognised borders enjoying normal relations with their neighbours in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.

The tasks of the new EUSR will be -among others- to facilitate and maintain close contacts with all the parties to the peace process, in particular Israel and the Palestinian Authority, relevant political actors and countries of the region, and other relevant countries, as well as the UN and other relevant international organisations, like the League of Arab States or the Gulf Cooperation Council. He will work with them closely in strengthening the peace process.

Furthermore, the EUSR will pay particular attention to factors affecting the regional dimension of the peace process, including the developments related to the conflict in Gaza and in the region following the brutal and indiscriminate terrorist attacks by Hamas against Israel on 7 October 2023, to the engagement with Arab partners and to the implementation of the Arab Peace Initiative.

The EUSR will also engage with representatives of civil society, including women and young people, as well as with those involved in measures to build confidence between the parties.

Mr. Bigot, who will take up his duties on 2 June 2025, for a period of 12 months, is a Middle East and North Africa specialist and senior French diplomat with extensive experience.

He served as Director of Africa and Indian Ocean in the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and Director of Strategy for the DGSE (French Foreign Intelligence Agency). Between 2009 and 2013, he served as Ambassador of the Republic of France to Israel, and from 2016 to 2019 to Senegal and Gambia. He has worked for the United Nations, UNESCO and other international organisations.

The EUSR will support the work of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, on matters within his mandate, and maintain an overview of all EU regional activities linked to the Middle East Peace Process.

EU Special Representatives promote the EU's policies and interests in certain regions and countries as well as issues of particular concern or interest for the EU. They play an active role in efforts to consolidate reforms, stability and the rule of law. The first EU Special Representatives were appointed in 1996. Currently, eleven EUSRs support the work of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas.