AKIPRESS.COM - The Council of the European Union has appointed Ambassador Terhi Hakala to serve as the EU Special Representative (EUSR) for Central Asia, starting on 1 July 2021.

In the duties of the EUSR for Central Asia, the focus is on the EU's continued and comprehensive cooperation with countries in the region. The cooperation covers a broad range of matters in the following sectors: security, the rule of law, environment, water, climate change, education, and human rights with an emphasis on the position of women.

Terhi Hakala has previously worked, for example, as Head of Finland's Permanent Mission in Geneva; Director General of the Department for Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs; Ambassador to India; Head of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Mission to Georgia; and Roving Ambassador to the South Caucasus. At present, Hakala is Ambassador for Hybrid Threats in the Political Department of the Foreign Ministry of Finland.

“In Central Asia, the EU is a welcome and balancing partner to help tackle the challenges of the region. The EU has many tools that can be used to promote recovery from the global pandemic. The mandate of the EUSR for Central Asia emphasises the need to strengthen regional cooperation and stability in collaboration with the countries of the region and other international actors. In the coming years, this will be even more important than before,” Hakala notes.