The Committee of Permanent Representatives of EU Member States was scheduled to decide on the appointment of a new special representative for the Sahel region on Wednesday, according to the public agenda. However, documentation released on Thursday indicated that this item, which was not originally slated for discussion, had been removed from the meeting’s agenda. This development suggests that the process surrounding the appointment of Tanja Fajon, who was put forward for the role by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, has encountered significant complications.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that the Slovenian capital, Ljubljana, has reportedly suspended the ongoing process. Earlier today, STA addressed the EU Council—the body responsible for appointing special representatives—inquiring about the removal of the matter from the official agenda, though an official response has not yet been provided. In recent weeks, the necessary appointment procedures within Brussels have maintained a policy of non-commentary on the issue, citing confidentiality.
The proposed candidate, Tanja Fajon, remains central to the discussion surrounding the Sahel mandate. The withdrawal of the item from the agenda has created uncertainty regarding the timeline and mechanism for finalizing the special representative’s appointment. Stakeholders are awaiting clarification from the EU institutions regarding the reasons for the last-minute change in the committee’s plans.
Topics: #appointment #tanja #fajon
