Gulf region: MEPs question appointment of new EU special representative

Read the letter below:

Subject: Appointment of a new EU special representative for the Gulf region

Last February, the High Representative announced to Parliament that he would appoint a new Special Representative for the Gulf region. More recently, this intention was confirmed by the representative himself[1]and by the President of the Commission[2],

According to recent press leaks[3], a group of independent experts is to assess the candidates for this post. Among them is Luigi Di Maio, Italy's former foreign minister from September 2019 to October 2022. Luigi Di Maio has a high school diploma, is an independent journalist and has held political office since 2013[4].

There are currently nine special representatives - six men and three women - who support the work of the High Representative[5].

Bearing in mind that the EEAS requires candidates to have a university degree and three to six years' relevant experience as minimum requirements[6], can the Council answer the following questions:

1. In view of the above, does the Council not believe that candidates for representatives should meet a series of minimum requirements in terms of qualifications and professional experience in the region concerned?

2. On the basis of which criteria does the Council intend to take a decision on the appointment of the new EU Special Representative? Do these criteria include a balance between men and women?

[1] in the margins of the meeting with the Gulf Cooperation Council on September 22, 2022: https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/gcc-high-representativevice-president-josep-borrell-met-leadership-gulf-cooperation-council_en

[2] This was confirmed in a speech given as part of the “Manama Dialogue” of the International Institute for Strategic Studies: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_22_7013

[3] In this context, he was the subject of an article published in the daily newspaper La Repubblica: https://www.repubblica.it/politica/2022/11/14/news/di_maio_inviato_ue_golfo_persico_gasparri_interrogazione-374517867/

[4] His profile on the website of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also relevant in this context: https://www.esteri.it/it/ministero/struttura/il_mae/ministri_esteri/luigi-di-maio/

[5] Some of these representatives have 25 years of experience in the regions in which they operate, as indicated on the EEAS website: https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/eu-special-representatives_en

[6] For example: https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/political-assistant-office-secretary-general-%E2%80%93-eeassgoffice_en

Read the Council's response below:

Share this post