Brussels, 04/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - Until further order, the European Union no longer has a special representative for the Middle East peace process. The mandate held by Marc Otte of Belgium, who had held the post since 2003, expired on 28 February. Catherine Ashton, who heads the European External Action Service (EEAS), does not intend to replace Marc Otte in the immediate future. Sources close to the EU high representative for foreign affairs confirmed on Friday 4 March: “Discussions are underway with member states on how to organise the work in the region in the light of the Lisbon Treaty, the setting up of the EEAS and the situation on the ground, including the new roles of delegations”. The decision not to renew Marc Otte's tenure is “only organisational; there is no change of policy”, they said, adding that Catherine Ashton is and will remain more than ever personally committed to reactivating the peace process - as this is one of her top priorities. Our sources consider it “likely” that a “new” special representative for the Middle East will be appointed in coming months. In the meantime, Catherine Ashton has intimated that one of her main deputies, Helga Schmid of Germany, who is the EEAS deputy secretary general, will be entrusted with the task of following up the issues covered by Marc Otte. The fact that the post is now vacant will not prevent the EU from having an influence on the peace process as it remains a member of the International Quartet on the Middle East. Catherine Ashton enjoys excellent relations with the key players, moreover, including Tony Blair, the Quartet special envoy, and the US special envoy, George Mitchell. The post of EU special representative for the Middle East, created in 1996 to give greater visibility to European action in that region, had first of all been held by Miguel Angel Moratinos.
End of SR mandates in Moldova and South Caucasus. On 28 February this year, the mandates of the EU special representatives for Moldova, Kalman Mizsei, and for South Caucausus, Peter Semneby, also expired. Mizsei's post (in Moldova) was taken over by the EEAS director general in charge of the Western Balkans, Miroslav Lacjak. Ashton has not yet decided what she will do with the South Caucasus post. (H.B./transl.jl)