Danish diplomat Sørensen confirmed as EU envoy for Kosovo-Serbia dialogue
Danish diplomat Peter Sørensen has been endorsed by European Union ambassadors as the EU special representative for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue. Sorensen was appointed by Kaja Kallas, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, to succeed Miroslav Lajčák in the role. Final approval from EU foreign ministers is expected on Monday, allowing Sorensen to assume his duties at the start of February.
Why is it relevant: Since 2011, the EU has facilitated dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia to resolve disputes and normalize their relations. Despite reaching several agreements over the years, progress on implementation has been limited and tensions remain high. Sørensen’s appointment comes at a time when the EU is under pressure to prove its capacity to achieve lasting peace in the region.
The context: Peter Sørensen brings extensive diplomatic experience within EU structures and in the Western Balkans. He currently serves as Senior Advisor for digital diplomacy at the EU External Action Service (EEAS).
Throughout his diplomatic career, Sørensen has held several key positions in the Western Balkans. He was the EU Special Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina and Head of the EU Office in Sarajevo. Additionally, he led the European Union Delegation in Skopje.
Earlier in his career, Sørensen worked as an advisor at the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and as the special representative of the EU High Representative in Serbia. He also contributed to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) mission in Croatia.
His extensive regional experience was reportedly one of the key reasons why Kaja Kallas chose him as Miroslav Lajčák ‘s successor.
Kosovo’s government has raised concerns about Lajčák’s impartiality, expressing a lack of trust in his role. The EU has dismissed these claims as “baseless accusations” and has consistently reiterated its full support for Lajčák.
However, throughout Lajčák’s tenure, the inability to advance the implementation of agreements between Kosovo and Serbia has sparked doubts about the effectiveness of the EU-facilitated dialogue process.
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