High Representative Catherine Ashton appoints new Chair of the Political and Security Committee, a new Head of Delegation/EU Special Representative to Afghanistan and new Heads of Delegation to Mauritania and Sierra Leone

By European Council
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High Representative Catherine Ashton appoints new Chair of the Political and Security Committee, a new Head of Delegation/EU Special Representative to Afghanistan and new Heads of Delegation to Mauritania and Sierra Leone

BRUSSELS, Kingdom of Belgium, June 21, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice President of the Commission, announced today the appointment of the new Chair of the Political and Security Committee and three new Heads of EU Delegations.

Walter Stevens has been appointed as Chair of the Political and Security Committee.

Currently working in the Headquarters of the EEAS, as Head of the Crisis Management and

Planning Directorate, he previously served as Permanent Representative of Belgium to the Political and Security Committee and to the West European Union.

Franz-Michael Skjold Mellbin has been appointed Head of the EU Delegation/EU Special Representative to Afghanistan. Currently Acting Under-Secretary of State for Global Politics and Security in the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he has previously served as Danish Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan.

José Antonio Sabadell has been appointed as Head of the EU Delegation to Mauritania.

Currently Deputy Director-General for North Africa in the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he previously served as Head of Civilian Component/Political Advisor for the Spanish Provincial Reconstruction team for Badghis (Afghanistan).

Peter Versteeg has been appointed as Head of the EU Delegation to Sierra Leone. Currently the Chargé d'Affaires a.i. of the EU Delegation to Honduras, he was previously Head of Operations/Political and Cooperation Section in the EU Delegation to Mexico.

High Representative Catherine Ashton said: "I am delighted to announce the appointment of these excellent candidates to key jobs in the EEAS. Their talent and expertise are significant assets for the EU's external action and I look forward to working with them in their new roles".

NB: To complete appointments as Head of Delegation, an accreditation request for a new Head of Delegation is sent to the host country. The selected candidate may take up duty only once accreditation of the host country has been granted and a number of administrative formalities have been completed.