Brussels, 04/08/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 4 August, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton announced she had appointed three new directors within the European External Action Service (EEAS). Frans Jacob Potuyt, a Dutch diplomat, becomes Director for Security. Koen Vervaeke, a Belgian diplomat, becomes Director for the Horn of Africa, East and Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean. Fernando Gentilini, an Italian diplomat, becomes Director for Western Europe, the Western Balkans and Turkey.
Frans Jacob Potuyt is currently Head of Mission at the Netherlands Embassy in Kazakhstan. He formerly served as Security Director of the Netherlands Foreign Ministry.
Koen Vervaeke is currently EU Special Representative and Head of Delegation at the African Union in Ethiopia. Fernando Gentilini is currently seconded as senior adviser to the EEAS on the Western Balkans. In 2004, he was Javier Solana's personal representative in Pristina and has also worked at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (L.C./transl.jl)