Council appoints a new EU Special Representative for Kosovo

The Council appointed a new EU Special Representative (EUSR) for Kosovo, and extended the mandates of the current EUSRs for Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Horn of Africa.

Kosovo

The Council appointed Mr. Dirk Schübel as the new EUSR for Kosovo. He will take up his duties on 1 September 2026 for an initial mandate of two years, succeeding Aivo Orav.

Dirk Schübel is a German national and a senior European diplomat with extensive experience in a range of leadership positions within the European External Action Service (EEAS), the European Commission and worked also at the German Foreign Ministry. He currently serves as the Head of the Russia Division at the EEAS.

Previously, he worked as the EU Special Envoy for the Eastern Partnership from 2022 to 2024, and he led the EU Delegation to Belarus from 2019 to 2022 and to Moldova from 2009 to 2013, where he played a key role in advancing the EU's engagement with the Eastern neighbourhood.

The EUSR’s mandate focuses on promoting a stable, democratic, and multi-ethnic Kosovo by supporting its European perspective through targeted public communication and outreach. Key responsibilities include monitoring progress on political, economic, and security priorities, contributing to the consolidation of human rights, the rule of law, and minority protection, and promoting overall EU political coordination to ensure a coherent and visible presence.

Furthermore, the mandate involves providing local political guidance to the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX Kosovo) and supporting the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue to foster regional stability and good neighbourly relations.

Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Horn of Africa

Furthermore, the Council today extended the existing mandates of the following EUSRs:

  • Luigi Soreca, the EUSR for Bosnia and Herzegovina, had his mandate extended for an additional two years, until 31 August 2028, to ensure EU’s continued diplomatic engagement and effectiveness of the Union’s external action in the country.
  • Annette Weber, current EUSR for the Horn of Africa, had her mandate extended for twelve additional months, until 31 August 2027, with a view of ensuring continued EU engagement at a time of a particularly challenging regional and global context.

Background

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.