EU extends mandate of Special Representative for South Caucasus and crisis in Georgia

At today's meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, the EU foreign ministers approved the extension of Magdalena Grono's mandate as the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia until August 31, 2027.

Report informs, citing the office of EU diplomatic chief Kaja Kallas, this is necessary as part of the European Union's policy for efforts toward long-term conflict resolution in regions strategically important to the EU.

The EU council also decided to extend the mandate of Special Representative for the Great Lakes region Johan Borgstam.

"The decision to extend the mandates for a two-year period demonstrates the strategic importance of these regions for EU foreign policy. The Great Lakes region in Africa remains a zone of instability with complex security problems, humanitarian challenges, and political crises. The South Caucasus, in turn, represents a region of geopolitical rivalry, where the EU seeks to promote peaceful settlement of protracted conflicts, including the situation in Georgia," the EU said.

EU Special Representatives are proposed by the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and appointed by the council to promote the policies and interests of the European Union in specific regions and countries, as well as on issues of particular interest to the EU.

The diplomatic mission of the Special Representatives includes a wide range of tasks: from mediating negotiations and monitoring situations to coordinating EU assistance and supporting democratic processes. The extension of mandates will ensure continuity of European policy and long-term planning of diplomatic initiatives in the regions.