EU Apoints New Envoy to Bosnia

Sorensen, who took up his post as head of the EU's delegation in Skopje only three months ago, will hold the same post in Sarajevo.

"Peter Sørensen brings unique experience of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the wider Balkans region to this job," Catherine Ashton said in a statement announcing the appointment on Monday. "I can think of no-one better qualified to take over this enhanced role of Head of Delegation. I would also like to pay tribute to the excellent job Peter has done in Skopje.

The European Voice writes that the appointment has surprised many diplomats given that he took up the position in Macedonia not long ago.

Sorensen, a Dane, is also expected to take over the role of EU Special Representative in Bosnia. That position is currently held by Valentin Inzko, who is also the International High Representative in Bosnia. The Office of the High Representative is expected to close within the next few years.

The post of head of the EU delegation has been vacant for almost a year.

Sorensen knows the region well. He was a personal representative to the former EU foreign policy chief in Belgrade from 2006 to 2010. He headed the EU Office in Pristina, Kosovo, from 2002 to 2006, and served as a political and legal adviser for a variety of missions in the Balkans prior to that.

In her announcement, Ashton referenced the difficult tasks that Sorensen will face upon his arrival in Bosnia.

"I am pleased to make this announcement just days after my visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a result of which the referendum in Republika Srpska was cancelled. We now have to build on this success as we strive to put BiH on a path towards the EU, " Ashton said in the statement.

Over the past six weeks Bosnia has faced what High Representative Inzko called the greatest crisis in the country since the war ended, after the predominantly Serb entity moved to hold a controversial referendum on the state judiciary and the Office of the High Representative.

Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik dropped his plans for the vote after a visit by Ashton, who promised that the EU would lead a dialogue on reforming the judicial system in Bosnia in exchange.