Hybášková set to be EU's Iraq envoy

Politician Jana Hybášková is reportedly in the running for the post of European Union ambassador to Iraq. The EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton is set to approve Hybášková's appointment within the coming days, the weekly Respekt reported online.

An unnamed diplomatic source backed this report, telling the Czech News Agency (ČTK) the speculation surrounding Hybášková "had a real basis."

Hybášková herself has declined to comment.

"I am not allowed for personal and security reasons to answer journalistic queries," she told The Prague Post Feb. 4.

The Hybášková file

Age: 45
Key roles:
2010 Christian Democrats (KDU-ČSL) leader in Prague
2004-09 Czech MEP for SNK-ED
1997-2003 Czech ambassador to Slovenia, Kuwait and Qatar
1990-97 Head of Foreign Affairs Ministry's Middle East section
Education: Majored in Arab Studies at Charles University, graduated 1988
Family: Husband, Ivan Gabal, sociologist, and two daughters

Formerly the Czech Republic's ambassador to Slovenia, Kuwait and Qatar, Hybášková was a member of the European Parliament between 2004 and 2009.

Representing the Independent Candidates' Association-European Democrats (SNK-ED) during her time in Brussels, one of her most high-profile roles was as leader of the European Parliament's delegation to Israel.

She later founded and chaired the European Democratic Party (EDS). Most recently, she led the Prague section of the Christian Democrats (KDU-ČSL) in last summer's national elections.

The post of EU ambassador is set to increase greatly in importance in the coming years, according to Josef Janning, director of studies at the Brussels-based European Policy Centre.

He told The Prague Post the activation of the Lisbon Treaty in December 2010 means that EU ambassadors will be speaking on behalf of the EU's high representative, who permanently chairs the council of the EU's 27 foreign ministers.

"The ambassadors will now have better access to the various resources and branches of the EU, at least on paper, because the new European External Action Service [EEAS] brings together capabilities and instruments from the commission, the council and member states," Janning said.

Up to now, the work of EU envoys was split three ways between foreign affairs directorates of the European Commission and the Council of Ministers, as well as by diplomats from the member countries themselves.

The changes will eventually see the EEAS become a large-scale diplomatic corps for the EU, comprising as many as 8,000 officials, including more than 1,000 diplomats.

Janning predicted that, while larger EU states may continue to prioritize their own ambassadors, the EU ambassadors would have a big role to play for smaller member states such as the Czech Republic.

"Chances are that particularly the smaller member states will rely strongly on the EU ambassador for a pooling of activities," Janning said.

He said the Iraq ambassadorship in particular would have a strong influence because "a good number of EU member states have no or a much reduced diplomatic presence there, so the EU embassy will take over functions in this regard."

Janning predicted that as the country "moves into more and more self-government," whoever takes up the job would face a tough task in staying apace with the "setbacks and disruptions" likely during this transition.

Igor Klimeš, who has worked in overseas development with the Czech branch of People in Need in a number of countries including Iraq, told The Prague Post that he saw the potential appointment as being both a reward for Czech commitment to rebuilding Iraq and a sign of how the Czech Republic has "capable diplomats with skill and experience."

Bill Lehane can be reached at
blehane@praguepost.com