New EU Special Representative for the Middle East peace process appointed

Summary: July 14, 2003: New EU Special Representative for the Middle East peace process appointed (Brussels)

The Council decided today to appoint Marc Otte as European Union Special Representative (EUSR) for the Middle East peace process. Ambassador Otte succeeds Miguel Angel Moratinos, who served as EUSR for the Middle East peace process from 1996 to 2003.

The mandate of the Special Representative is based on the EU's policy objectives regarding the Middle East peace process, which include a two-State solution with Israel and a democratic, viable, peaceful and sovereign Palestinian State living side-by-side within secure and recognised borders enjoying normal relations with their neighbours in accordance with UN Security Council Resolutions 242, 338, 1397 and 1402 and the principles of the Madrid conference.

The Special Representative will act under the authority and operational direction of High Representative Solana and will support his work in the region, including in the framework of the Middle East Quartet.

Ambassador Otte, born 1947 in Brussels, has been the advisor to High Representative Javier Solana on European security and defence issues since 1999. Prior to that, he was Director for security policy and disarmament at the Belgian MFA (1997-99), Ambassador of Belgium to Israel (1992-96) and Consul-General in Los Angeles (1988-92). Previous postings included Kinshasa and Washington.

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The mandate of the EU Special Representative includes:

providing an active and efficient contribution from the European Union to actions and initiatives leading to a final settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and of the Israeli-Syrian and Israeli-Lebanese conflict;
facilitating and maintaining close contact with all the parties to the Middle East Peace Process, other countries of the region, members of the Middle East Quartet and other relevant countries, as well as the UN and other relevant international organisations, in order to work with them in strengthening the peace process;
ensuring continued EU presence on the ground and in relevant international fora and contribute to crises management and prevention;
observing and supporting peace negotiations between the parties and offer the EU's advice and good offices as appropriate;
contributing, where requested, to the implementation of international agreements reached between the parties and engaging with them diplomatically in the event of non-compliance with the terms of these agreements;
engaging constructively with signatories to agreements within the framework of the peace process in order to promote compliance with the basic norms of democracy, including respect for human rights and the rule of law;
reporting on the possibilities for EU intervention in the peace process and on the best way of pursuing EU initiatives and ongoing Middle East peace process-related EU efforts, such as the EU's contribution to Palestinian reforms, and including the political aspects of relevant EU development projects;
monitoring actions by either side, that might prejudice the outcome of the permanent status negotiations;
facilitating cooperation on security issues and implementing an EU programme relating to security issues.

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Attached please find the CV of Mr. Otte:

Marc Otte

Born in Brussels, April 26th 1947
Married, 4 children

Education

MA in Political and Social Sciences, University of Louvain, 1969.
Post graduate degree of the Institute for Developing Countries, University of Louvain, 1970.

Professional Experience

Since October 1999	Advisor on defence and security policy to the High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy. Head of ESDP Task Force (European Security and Defence Policy), EU Policy Planning and Early Warning Unit, General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union, Brussels
1997-99	Director for Security Policy and Disarmament, General Directorate for Political Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Belgium
1992-96	Ambassador of Belgium to Israel
1988-92	Consul General of Belgium in Los Angeles
1984-88	Counsellor, Head of the Economic Department of the Embassy of Belgium Kinshasa, Zaire
1980-84	First Secretary, Economic, Trade and Technology Affairs, Embassy of Belgium in Washington, DC
1978-80	Head of Division, Interministerial Co-ordination, Department of European Affairs, Foreign Ministry, Brussels, Belgium
1976-77	Economic Attaché, Belgian Embassy, Washington DC
1973-75	Deputy to the Technical Manager, Kloeckner Bamaco SA, Nossegem, Belgium
1970-72	Teacher at the Teacher Training School of Bokakata, Democratic Republic of Congo

Languages: French (mother tongue), English, Dutch, Spanish.

Publications:

"Perspectives pour la Défense Européenne après le Sommet de Cologne"; Centre for Defence Studies, Royal Institute for Defence, Brussels (December 1999).
"ESDP and Multilateral Security Organisations: working with NATO, the UN and OSCE", in "The EU's search for a strategic role", Esther Brimmer, editor; Center for Transatlantic Relations; The Johns Hopkins University. 2002.

Ref: CL03-249EN
EU source: Council
UN forum:
Date: 14/7/2003

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