The foreign ministers of EU member states have officially confirmed the selection of Danish diplomat Peter Sorensen as the new EU envoy for dialogue.

Sorensen was chosen by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, to succeed Miroslav Lajčák in this role.

He will assume his position on February 1, following the expiration of Lajčák’s term on January 31.

On January 24, EU ambassadors endorsed Sorensen for this role.

Getting to Know Sorensen

Hailing from Denmark, Sorensen boasts extensive diplomatic experience within EU institutions. He is presently a Senior Advisor at the European External Action Service (EEAS), focusing on Digital Diplomacy.

Throughout his career in EU diplomacy, Sorensen has undertaken various assignments in the Western Balkans. He has served as the EU Special Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, along with heading the EU Office in Sarajevo. Additionally, he led the EU Delegation in Skopje.

Prior to these roles, Sorensen worked as an advisor for the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and served as the Special Representative for the EU High Representative in Serbia.

His experience in the Balkans also includes working on the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) mission in Croatia.

Former Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto, known for his understanding of the Western Balkans, also submitted his candidacy for the mediator role in the dialogue.

Additionally, former President and Prime Minister of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, was considered for this position. Last year, he expressed interest but, in January of this year, he opted not to pursue it further, realizing it required more diplomatic expertise than political involvement.

Notably, during Lajčák’s nearly five-year term, an Agreement on the Path to Normalization of Relations between Kosovo and Serbia was established.

This agreement, while not formally signed, is considered legally binding by the EU. The bloc has criticized both Kosovo and Serbia for not commencing implementation of the agreement, which could impact both nations’ paths toward European integration.

The EU-mediated dialogue for normalizing relations between Kosovo and Serbia has been ongoing since 2011. Several agreements have been created during this process, but implementation has remained minimal.

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