Luigi Di Maio has been appointed EU Special Representative in the Gulf on the proposal of the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy Josep Borrell. The approval, without debate, at the opening of today's work of the Sports Affairs Council, in Brussels.
The green light arrived this morning concludes the procedure for the appointment of the former Italian Foreign Minister after the indication arrived by the High Representative last April 21 at the meeting of the Political and Security Committee and that of the Permanent Representatives of the 27 in the EU.
With the formal go-ahead, Di Maio will take office on June 1st.
Di Maio will have a diplomatic passport and immunity, and will remain in office until February 2025. It will also be tasked with overseeing gas and oil supplies from the Persian Gulf region and monitoring the delicate relationship with Iran. It will work within the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the diplomatic service of the European Union. Since 2011, the EEAS has implemented the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy to promote peace, prosperity, security and the interests of Europeans around the world.
According to some, the former minister would not be suitable for this role. For the current Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani it would not be suitable because he was a candidate with a previous government and his appointment does not correspond to the indication of the government in office now. According to League MEP Marco Zanni: "Luigi Di Maio during his mandate as head of the Foreign Ministry has repeatedly created diplomatic incidents with some countries part of the Persian Gulf". Zanni also announced a question to the European Parliament to ask about the criteria and candidacies for this choice, and returns to underline the salary between 13 thousand and 16 thousand euros that Di Maio should receive for the job.