Sven Koopmans | |
|---|---|
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| European Union Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process | |
| In office 1 May 2021 – 28 February 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Susanna Terstal |
| Succeeded by | Luigi Di Maio |
| Member of theHouse of Representatives | |
| In office 23 March 2017 – 31 March 2021 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Sven Michael George Koopmans (1973-06-20)20 June 1973 (age 52) Amsterdam |
| Political party | VVD |
| Parent |
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| Alma mater | Leiden University (LLM University of Oxford (MJur,DPhil) |
| Occupation |
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Sven Michael George Koopmans (born 20 June 1973) is a Dutch international lawyer, diplomat and former politician. From 2021 to 2025 he served as theEuropean Union Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process.[1] Before that he was a member of theHouse of Representatives for thePeoples Party for Freedom and Democracy from 2017 to 2021.
His father,Aart Koopmans, founded the Alternative Elfstedentocht.
In his role as EUSR, he is charged with providing an active contribution to the final settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on a two-state solution, in line with the UNSCR 2334 (2016). He reports directly to theHigh Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,Josep Borrell, on this issue and maintains an overview of all EU regional activities linked to the Middle East Peace Process.
From 2017 to 2021 Koopmans was aMember of Parliament for thePeople's Party for Freedom and Democracy, first as spokesman on legal affairs, then on foreign affairs and military missions.[2] He was Head of Delegation to theNATO Parliamentary Assembly, President of the Dutch-French Contact Group, Chair of the Parliamentary Commission on Requests and Citizen Initiatives, and Member of theParliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. Koopmans is a Knight of theLegion of Honor; he received this award in 2022.[3]
During his time as a Member of Parliament Koopmans submitted an amendment to the Dutch Constitution, adding a preamble to the Constitution. His amendment was approved in second reading by the Dutch Senate in July 2022 and entered into force after publication in August 2022.[4][5][6]
Between 2003 and 2016 he was political and legal advisor in peace processes, border conflict mediation and constitutional review processes under the auspices of theEuropean Union,United Nations,African Union andOSCE, among others, including in Cyprus, Darfur, Mali, Ukraine and Guyana/Venezuela. Between 2014 and 2016 he was senior mediation expert to the UN Special Envoy for Syria, between 2011 and 2013 advisor to the EU Special Representative for Sudan and South Sudan, and from 2008 to 2009 to the International Civilian Representative in Kosovo. Between 2001 and 2008 Koopmans was also a barrister (advocaat) at the global law firm of Clifford Chance LLP, specializing in international litigation. In 2000 he advised Bosnia and Herzegovina at the United Nations in New York on negotiations on theRome Statute, the treaty establishing theInternational Criminal Court.
Koopmans has taught peace negotiations atLeiden University andAix-Marseille III. He speaks Dutch, English, French and German.
Koopmans obtained master's degrees in law and political science atLeiden University (1997) and a Master's degree (1998) and a Doctorate (2007) atOxford University, the latter for his thesis Diplomatic Dispute Settlement (T.M.C. Asser Press, 2008). He also studied atSciences Po Paris (1993),Harvard University (1995) andNew York University (2000).
During his time in Leiden University he was a member of Mordenate College.