Janez Lenarčič (born November 6, 1967) is a
Slovenian
diplomat
A diplomat (from grc, δίπλωμα; romanized ''diploma'') is a person appointed by a state or an intergovernmental institution such as the United Nations or the European Union to conduct diplomacy with one or more other states or internati ...
who has been serving as
European Commissioner for Crisis Management
The European Commissioner for Crisis Management is a member of the European Commission. The portfolio was previously titled ''Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection''. The post is currently held by Janez Lenarčič.
The portfolio ...
in the
Von der Leyen Commission since 2019. He is a former Director of the
Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights within the
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
Early life and education
Lenarčič holds a degree in international law from the
University of Ljubljana, 1992.
[European Commission, CV]
/ref>[OSCE, CV]
/ref>
Career in diplomacy
Lenarčič entered the Slovenian foreign service in 1992 . His first posting in 1994-1999 was at the Mission of Slovenia to the United Nations in New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
New York may also refer to:
Film and television
* '' ...
.[
From 2000 to 2001 Lenarčič worked as adviser to the foreign minister and Prime Minister Janez Drnovšek. From 2002 to 2003 he served as secretary of state in the office of the prime minister.][
Lenarčič was ambassador of Slovenia to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna from 2003 to 2006, and chaired the OSCE Permanent Council in 2005 during the Slovenian chairmanship.][
From 2006 to 2008 Lenarčič was secretary of state for European affairs, including representing Slovenia during the Lisbon Treaty negotiations in 2007 and later representing the Slovenian EU Council Presidency to the European Parliament in 2008.][
Lenarčič then moved to Warsaw as Director of the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) until 2014.][
In 2014 Lenarčič was named secretary of state in the cabinet of the Slovenian Prime Minister Miro Cerar.][ In 2016 he moved to Brussels as Permanent Representative of Slovenia to the EU.][
]
Member of the European Commission, 2019–present
In 2019 Lenarčič was nominated by Prime Minister Marjan Šarec (Renew Europe) for the post of Slovenia's European Commissioner
A European Commissioner is a member of the 27-member European Commission. Each member within the Commission holds a specific portfolio. The commission is led by the President of the European Commission. In simple terms they are the equivalent ...
in the Commission led by Ursula von der Leyen.
In early March 2020, Lenarčič was appointed by von der Leyen to serve on the Commission's special task force to coordinate the European Union's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.[Laura Kayali, Paola Tamma and Hans von der Burchard (April 9, 2020)]
France’s freewheeling Thierry Breton rises to the crisis
'' Politico Europe''.
Awards
Lenarčič received France's highest award, the Légion d'honneur.[
]
References
External links
CV at the Slovenian Government's website
Janez Lenarčič takes up job as new ODIHR director
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lenarcic, Janez
1967 births
Government ministers of Slovenia
Living people
OSCE ODIHR directors
Diplomats from Ljubljana
Permanent Representatives of Slovenia to the United Nations
Slovenian European Commissioners
University of Ljubljana alumni
European Commissioners 2019–2024