EU appoints new special representative for Central Asia

The Council of European Union has appointed Mr Eduards Stiprais as new EU Special Representative for Central Asia. He will take up his duties on 1 March 2025 with an initial mandate of 2 years, succeeding Terhi Hakala.

The newly appointed Special Representative will focus on promoting relations between the EU and Central Asian countries, strengthening regional cooperation, and enhancing democracy, the rule of law, good governance, and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, the Council said in today's statement.

Mr. Stiprais is a Latvian diplomat with extensive experience. He served as Permanent Representative of Latvia to the EU, and as Deputy State Secretary – Political Director of the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Between 2016 and 2020, he was Head of EU Delegation to the Republic of Uzbekistan, and he also served as Ambassador of the Republic of Latvia to the United Kingdom, and to France.

EU Special Representatives promote the EU's policies and interests in certain regions and countries as well as issues of particular concern or interest for the EU. Currently, eleven EUSRs support the work of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas.