The Council of the European Union (EU) today appointed Kajsa Olongren as the new EU Special Representative for Human Rights, the EU body announced today.
It is stated that Olongren has a wealth of national experience, and has previously served as Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands, as well as the country's Minister of the Interior and Defense.
Olongren will continue the work of his predecessors in implementing EU human rights policy, EU positions and promoting international humanitarian law and criminal justice, but also assisting in human rights dialogue with Third World countries, as well as international and regional organizations.
The new Special Representative will work with the European External Action Service and the EU institutions to ensure the effectiveness and visibility of the EU's human rights policy in external actions.
EU Special Representatives promote EU policies and interests in specific regions and countries, and the first were appointed in 1996, while there are currently 11 special representatives who support the work of the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kalas.
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