About the EU Delegation to Afghanistan

04/11/2020 - 14:00

About us - structure and organisation

The EU has a long-term commitment to support the people of Afghanistan on their path towards peace, security and prosperity. Together, EU and Afghanistan work on a forward-looking agenda for peace, stability and sustainable development. The EU also supports political and economic cooperation between Afghanistan and neighbouring countries to develop sustainable connectivity in the wider region.

What we do

The EU Delegation to Afghanistan:

Presents, explains and implements EU policy
Analyses and reports on policies and developments
Negotiates following its given mandate.

EU Delegation's main focus is on:

Strengthening democracy
Establishing the rule of law
Governance and capacity building
Security sector reform
Economic prosperity
Human rights & support to the peace process.

Organisation

Ambassador and Head of Delegation

Ambassador Andreas von Brandt

Deputy Head of the EU Delegation

Mr. Arnout PAUWELS

Head of the Political Section and Press Section

Mr Johan Sorensen

Head of Operations (Co-operation)

Mr Stefan Lock

Team Leader: Economic & Regional Development

Mr Mohamed El Azzouzi

Team Leader: Social Development

Mr Wim Riepma

Team Leader: Security Sector Reform, Governance & Democracy

Mr Lope Gallego

Head of Finance & Contract

Ms Adela Rodenas-Rodriguez

Head of Administration

Mr Cetin Kara

Press and Information Officer

Mr Michael Nordenberg

EU Special Envoy

Ambassador Roland Kobia was appointed as EU Special Envoy to Afghanistan on 1 September 2017.

He has focused on peace processes, transition countries and reconciliation initiatives, regional security issues and state-building for the last 17 years. The aim of the EU Special Envoy to Afghanistan is to lead and coordinate EU's efforts related to the peace, stabilisation and reconciliation process in Afghanistan regionally and internationally. This means support for an inclusive and Afghan-led peace process.

Prior to his current appointment, Roland Kobia was the first resident Ambassador of the European Union to Myanmar /Burma, having been the first full-term EU Ambassador to Azerbaijan in 2009-2013. Earlier on, he was the Deputy Head of Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, notably covering the regional politics and the Great Lakes conflict. He also served in Kenya as the Head of the Regional Political Section, covering political affairs, conflicts and peace processes in 12 countries of the Horn of Africa and of the African Great Lakes regions, and mediating peace agreements. Between postings, he was called by the EU Commissioner for Energy to serve as the International Affairs Advisor in his Private Office. Earlier in his career, Roland Kobia was the European Commission's negotiator for a special chapter of the accession process for countries joining the EU. He was also the Commission's negotiator for international legislation at the World Intellectual Property Organisation in Geneva and served in South Africa in late 80s during the transition out of Apartheid.

Roland Kobia has been a visiting professor at the University of Montpellier for several years, and a regular lecturer in various universities and institutes. He is a frequent guest speaker at international conferences, and has published several political and legal articles in various international reviews. He holds a Master’s degree in European Politics (College of Europe, Bruges), a Master’s degree in International Nuclear Law (University of Montpellier 1) with a thesis on Non-Proliferation and a Degree in Law (UCL University). He is fluent in French, English and Italian with a fair knowledge of Dutch and Spanish.