Kallas appoints Ollongren and Maasikas to head EEAS posts

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has announced several significant personnel decisions within the European External Action Service. Estonian diplomat Matti Maasikas has been formally confirmed as Deputy Secretary-General of the EEAS, while former Dutch Defence Minister Kajsa Ollongren will lead the service as Secretary-General. Most of the new officials took up their positions on 1 September.

The EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas has announced several important appointments to senior positions in the European External Action Service (EEAS). The changes affect three deputy secretary-general posts and the secretary-general position itself.

Kajsa Ollongren becomes secretary-general

Kajsa Ollongren will be the new secretary-general of the EEAS, the service's highest administrative official. She replaces Spaniard Belén Martínez Carbonelli, who left the position following her appointment as EU ambassador to Mexico.

Ollongren was born into a Dutch-Swedish family and has worked in Dutch national politics for decades. Over 30 years, her career has encompassed various senior positions, including the roles of defence minister, deputy prime minister and interior minister in the Netherlands. Most recently, she worked as the EU's special envoy on human rights. Kallas stressed that Ollongren's experience is a major asset in tackling current challenges.

Maasikas gets permanent post

Estonian diplomat Matti Maasikas has been formally confirmed as deputy secretary-general of the EEAS in the field of geoeconomics and inter-institutional affairs. Since early 2025, he has filled this role temporarily, but now his position in the European diplomatic service's leadership is permanently secured.

Maasikas's earlier career has been closely tied to both EU and Estonian foreign policy. He headed the EU delegation in Kyiv from 2019 to 2023, served as Estonia's permanent representative to the EU, and was state secretary of the Estonian Foreign Ministry. Since November 2024, he has been responsible for managing the Europe and Central Asia Department at the EEAS, coordinating, among other things, EU policy in support of Ukraine.

French diplomat takes over security portfolio

David Cvach, a French diplomat, has been appointed deputy secretary-general of the EEAS for peace, security and defence matters. Cvach previously headed the EU affairs directorate at France's Foreign Ministry and served as an adviser to the French president on Middle East issues. He currently represents France to NATO. His start date will be announced later. The other appointees will begin their official duties on 1 September 2025.