Pekka Haavisto appointed President of the Board of Governors of the European Institute of Peace

Press release 185/2016
7 October 2016

Pekka Haavisto, MP and the Foreign Minister’s Special Representative on Mediation, has been appointed the new President of the Board of Governors of the  European Institute of Peace (EIP). The previous holder of the position was Staffan de Mistura, UN Special Envoy for Syria.

"Pekka Haavisto's appointment to serve as President of the EIP Board of Governors is an excellent matter and a recognition for Finland's long-term mediation work," Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini comments on the appointment.

The EIP functions independent of the European Union, supporting and augmenting the expanding peace agenda of the EU. Finland is one of the institute's founding members. The EIP's main areas of activity are mediation tasks and such supportive functions in mediation where the EU has limited freedom or ability to act, including mobilisation of experts and resources, development of training and knowledge, training and coaching, and provision of small grants to mediation and dialogue processes.

The role of mediation has become increasingly important among the tools available in mediation internationally and in the EU. Finland will continue its determined contribution to the international mediation activities and develop and strengthen its national mediation and dialogue capacity in accordance with the Government Report on Finnish Foreign and Security Policy.

Inquiries: Lasse Keisalo, Director, tel. +358 295 351 845 and Janne Oksanen, Desk Officer, tel. +358 295 351 333, Unit for UN and General Global Affairs

The Foreign Ministry's email addresses are in the format [email protected]