Brussels, 06/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - Fernando Gentilini of Italy was, on Friday 6 May, appointed the new EU special envoy to Kosovo, a decision with retroactive effect taken by the Council on the basis of a recommendation by Catherine Ashton. Gentilini took up his duties on 1 May and will remain at the post until 31 July, the time needed for the EU27 to reach agreement on the future architecture of European presence in Kosovo. As in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the EU27 plan to merge the functions of the EU special representative and that of the EU delegation head in the country. There is, however, the problem of the international civilian representative (ICR) for Kosovo entrusted with ensuring implementation of the Ahtisaari plan on the status of Kosovo - a post hitherto held by the outgoing EU special envoy, Pieter Fieth of the Netherlands. The appointment of Gentilini thus splits the two functions: the Italian diplomat will be EU special representative until the end of July. Feith, however, will remain present in Kosovo as the civilian representative for the international community. “In his temporary position, he will prepare for a strengthened and long term EU presence in Kosovo”, Catherine Ashton said in a press release published on Friday. (A.By./transl.jl)