The European Union said Tuesday its newly appointed special envoy for Afghanistan will focus on supporting the Afghan people, defending human rights — particularly those of women and girls — and promoting regional stability.
Gilles Bertrand formally began his mandate in September 2025. The EU said his task will be to advance the bloc’s “principled engagement” on Afghanistan, in line with Council conclusions adopted in 2021 and 2023. That engagement includes facilitating humanitarian aid, countering terrorism and strengthening regional cooperation.
“The EU must pursue its principled engagement with Afghanistan in order to strengthen regional stability and defend its values and interests,” Bertrand said in a statement. “One particular priority of mine will be to ensure that the European Union continues to be a strong supporter of the Afghan people, in particular women and girls who face unprecedented restrictions.”
Bertrand, a veteran EU diplomat, has a long association with Afghanistan. His first foreign posting was in Kabul as head of the political section of the EU Delegation. He later served as EU chargé d’affaires to Syria from 2019 to 2021 and most recently as EU ambassador to Colombia from 2021 to 2025.
In addition to his new envoy role, Bertrand will serve as head of division for Afghanistan and Pakistan at the EU’s External Action Service. He is expected to work closely with the EU Delegation in Kabul and with regional partners to ensure coherence in the bloc’s engagement with Afghanistan.
