Ambassador Irena Andrassy

Croatian Permanent Representation to the European Union

Ambassador Irena Andrassy is a distinguished Croatian diplomat, currently serving as the Permanent Representative of Croatia to the European Union since September 2019. Her extensive career in diplomacy and international relations is underpinned by a solid educational background, having earned a degree in Law from the University of Zagreb. This academic foundation has equipped her with a deep understanding of legal and international frameworks, which has been instrumental throughout her diplomatic career.

Prior to her current role, Andrassy held various significant positions within the Croatian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs. Notably, she served as Croatia’s Ambassador to Denmark and Iceland from 2014 to 2018, where she focused on strengthening bilateral relations, promoting economic cooperation, and enhancing cultural exchanges between Croatia and the Nordic countries. Her tenure in Copenhagen was marked by efforts to foster closer ties and collaborative initiatives, showcasing her ability to navigate and manage international relationships effectively.

In her role as the Permanent Representative of Croatia to the European Union, Andrassy has been at the forefront of representing and advocating for Croatia’s interests within the EU. She played a pivotal role during Croatia’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2020, navigating the complexities brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Her responsibilities include participating in high-level negotiations, contributing to the formulation of EU policies, and ensuring that Croatia’s national interests are well-represented within the EU framework. Ambassador Andrassy’s career is distinguished by her adept negotiation skills, commitment to advancing Croatia’s position in the international arena, and dedication to fostering cooperation within the European Union. Born on 7 January 1974 in Zagreb, Croatia

Professional experience:

• From August 2019 – Permanent Representative of Croatia to the European Union
• 2018-2019 – European Commission, Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, Principal Adviser for the International Dimension of DG EAC’s policies and programmes
• 2014-2018 – European Commission, Deputy Head of Cabinet of Commissioner Neven Mimica, International Cooperation and Development
• 2013-2014 – European Commission, Deputy Head of Cabinet of Commissioner Neven Mimica, Consumer Policy
• 2011-2013 – Representative of Croatia in COREPER I (Deputy Permanent Representative to the European Union)
• 2010-2011 – Member of the Negotiating Team for Croatia’s Accession to the EU – Negotiator for all legal matters in the EU accession process and Lead Coordinator of the EU Accession Treaty preparations
• 2005-2011 – Chief Legal Adviser to the Chief Negotiator and the Negotiating Team for Croatia’s Accession to the EU; Member of several Working Groups for the preparation of chapter negotiations; Member of the High-Level Working Group for the preparation of amendments to the Croatian Constitution to take account of Croatia’s EU accession; Senior Diplomat at the Mission of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union, Office of the Chief Negotiator
• 2001-2005 – Attaché, Third Secretary and Second Secretary, Mission of the Republic of Croatia to the European Communities, Brussels
• 1999-2001 – Junior Diplomat, Department for European Integration, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Croatia
• 1999 – Government of the Republic of Croatia, Office for European Integration Education and training:

• Master of Science (MSc) in European Studies, The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), University of London
• Bachelor Degree in Law, Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb
• One-year professional diplomatic studies (Diplomatic Academy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Croatia); state and counsellor exams; strategic leadership and management programmes and coursesLanguages:

•   English
•   German, French
•   Italian, Russian