Today, 26 June 2023, Carabinieri Major General Giovanni Pietro Barbano officially assumed the role of head of the EULEX mission in Kosovo, succeeding the Swedish diplomat, Ambassador Lars-Gunnar Wigemark. Barbano had been designated on 27 April for the prestigious position and this was announced by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Tajani, in a hearing in the Chamber of Deputies stating: “We managed to get the leadership of Eulex also thanks to our carabinieri1" (see New forces in Kosovo: the Carabinieri implement the strength of EULEX, which in Kosovo have always made an extraordinary impression and are appreciated by all2).
In his first statements, the senior official, who will leave office on 14 June 2025, acknowledged that EULEX is still operating in a difficult context, amidst growing tensions, and added: “The mission is an excellent tool for a wider EU response to security challenges, as EULEX is Kosovo's second largest security responder. Within the confines of its mandate, the Mission will continue to support stability in Kosovo as well as the security of all its communities.”.
“EULEX will continue to closely monitor selected cases at the police, prosecution, court and prison levels to assess how these cases are being handled by the Kosovo authorities. Among other things, monitoring will focus on respect for human rights, fair trial guarantees and equal treatment for all, including members of non-majority communities in Kosovo.".
It is the first time that an Italian soldier leads the EULEX mission. Another Italian but coming from a diplomatic career, Gabiele Meucci, was at the helm of EULEX from 2014 to 2016.
Gen. Barbano attended the Military Academy of Modena from 1980 to 1982, and there Officers Carabinieri School from 1982 to 1984. Prior to his current assignment, he held various command and staff positions, both in Italy and internationally, most recently as director of the Center of Excellence for Stability Police Units (CoESPU ) of Vicenza. In this capacity, he also served as President of the European Association of Peace Operations Training Centers (EAPTC) in 2016 and as President of the Police Council on the Executive Committee of the International Association of Peace Maintenance Training Centres. peace from 2018 to 2022. In 1999, the officer served as Chief of the Planning and Military Police Section within the Operations Office at the general command of the Arma dei Carabinieri, where he was responsible for planning and coordinating the deployments of the Carabinieri in peace operations conducted under the aegis of the UN, NATO, OSCE, the EU and other international organizations. From September 1995 to March 1996, he was Deputy Chief of Operations for the Western European Union Police Mission in Mostar, while from 2007 to 2008, the General was the Regimental Commander of Integrated Police Units within the WEU Police Mission. Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina, EUFOR "ALTHEA", which was the first deployment of the European Gendarmerie Force (EUROGENDFOR).
Various academic titles obtained by gen. Barbano: degree in Political Sciences from the University of Siena and a degree in International and Diplomatic Sciences from the University of Trieste. He also holds a Master's degree in Internal and External Security Sciences from the Tor Vergata University of Rome, a master's degree in International Strategic-Military Studies from the University of Milan and in Strategic Sciences from the University of Turin.
Equally numerous are the honors and decorations he is awarded including the Legion of Merit, received by the President of the United States of America in 2019 and the Military Order of Italy granted to him in 2022 by the President of the Italian Republic. In 2021 he was awarded by Brigadier General Niave Knell, commander of the US Army Military Police Regiment (MPRA), the prestigious Friend of the MPRA Award which is granted to those who have provided over the years, and often on the occasion of important peace operations in various parts of the world, a significant contribution in terms of morale and well-being towards the soldiers belonging to the military police corps regiment and their families.
1 At this moment EULEX is made up, on the Italian side, by soldiers of the 2nd Carabinieri Mobile Brigade and more precisely by the soldiers of the 7th "Trentino Alto-Adige" Regiment of Laives (see The Serbian troops on the border with Kosovo are in a state of high alert)
2 agenzianova.com
Photo: EULEX Kosovo
