WHO IS WHO – Eva Palatova: Experienced diplomat advocating a multiethnic Kosovo and the establishment of the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities

Following the departure of Aivo Orav, the position of Acting Head of the European Union Office in Pristina has been assumed by Eva Palatova, a senior EU diplomat with more than 20 years of experience, who has consistently emphasized in her public appearances the importance of protecting the rights of non-majority communities and building a multiethnic society in Kosovo.

According to media reports, the EU has not yet formally finalized the appointment of a new ambassador to Kosovo, and therefore Orav’s successor is not expected in Pristina before the summer. It is also reported that Orav is to be replaced by a diplomat from Italy.
Pending the arrival of a replacement for the Estonian diplomat, who is continuing his career in Turkey, Palatova has taken over the role of Acting Head of the EU Office in Pristina.
According to her LinkedIn biography, Palatova is a senior diplomat of the European Union with over 20 years of experience in EU affairs, specializing in foreign policy, external relations, enlargement, and interinstitutional relations.
Since 2023, she has served as Deputy Head of the EU Office in Kosovo, where, among other responsibilities, she coordinated EU support for European integration, financial assistance, and political engagement in Kosovo.
After assuming the position of Acting Head of the EU Office in Pristina, Palatova held a series of meetings. Among others, she met with the Deputy Managing Director of the European External Action Service for Western Europe, Emanuele Giaufret.
“The EU supports Kosovo on its path toward European integration,” Palatova stated on that occasion.
She also met with Kosovo’s newly appointed chief negotiator with the European Union, Jeton Zulfaj, congratulating him on his appointment and reaffirming the European Union’s continued support for Kosovo’s reform agenda.
Together with representatives of the Quint countries, she also met a few days ago with the Mayor of North Mitrovica, Milan Radojevic, at the municipal civil registry office.
As Palatova stated in a post on the social network “X,” the visit provided support to citizens to make use of the agreement reached on the implementation of the Law on Foreigners.
“We encouraged the local population to make use of the agreement of March 14. The European Union will continue to cooperate with the Government of Kosovo and the Serbian community in Kosovo on its implementation,” she said.

On the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities
As early as 2023, Palatova stated that the EU is committed to providing the support necessary to accelerate the accession process in the region.
“For Kosovo, this comes with a clear expectation to establish the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities, on the one hand, and to adequately and fully implement in practice its well-established legal framework for the protection of the rights of non-majority communities,” she said at the time.

A Multiethnic and Multicultural Kosovo
“A vibrant multiethnic and multicultural Kosovo is a key objective in our work. In terms of policy, we cooperate with the Government of Kosovo, its institutions, as well as various local and international partners, in order to advise and support the advancement of language rights of non-majority communities, access to healthcare and education, participation in society and institutions, security, and access to justice,” Palatova stated.

Career in the European Parliament and EU Delegations in Canada and the United States
Throughout her career, Palatova has held advisory positions in the European Parliament, where she was involved in enlargement progress reports, interinstitutional negotiations on the establishment of the European External Action Service, EU–US parliamentary relations, as well as the Brexit negotiation process.
She has also held senior diplomatic positions in EU delegations in Canada and Washington, contributing to strengthening the European Union’s international relations.
Her engagement in Kosovo has taken place alongside Ambassador Orav, as well as prior to him, when the position was held by Tomas Szunyog.