Bartjan Wegter new EU counterterrorism coordinator

Brussels – Bartjan Wegter appointed the new EU counterterrorism coordinator: The Dutch senior diplomat will be in charge for five years, as of 1 March. He will replace Ilkka Salmi. In his role, Wetger, 56, is responsible for counterterrorism work coordination within the EU, ensuring the implementation and evaluation of the EU counterterrorism strategy, integrating internal and external aspects of counterterrorism, and improving communication between the EU and third countries.

The European Council decided to establish the position of EU counterterrorism coordinator in 2004, in the wake of the March 11 terrorist attack in Madrid that year. Wetger comes from NATO, where he served as minister plenipotentiary of the Netherlands.