George Cunningham

Strategic Adviser on Asia-Pacific Affairs, European External Action Service (EEAS),

George Cunningham is the Strategic Adviser on Asia-Pacific Affairs at the European External Action Service (EEAS) in Brussels, having just returned from Kabul where he had been Deputy EU Ambassador to Afghanistan (2016-18).

He was previously EEAS Deputy Head of Division for China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Mongolia (2012-16); Chargé d'Affaires a.i. of the European Union's Delegation to New Zealand (2007-12); Coordinator for bilateral trade relations with the United States at the European Commission's Directorate General for Trade (2005-07); Head of the Accession Process and Cooperation Section at the European Commission's Delegation in Nicosia (2003-05) when Cyprus joined the EU; and Head of Press and Public Affairs and Political Counsellor at the EC's Delegation to the United Nations in New York (2000-03) during 9/11.

He has been working 25 years for the EU across all the main files, especially foreign and security policy, public diplomacy and trade. He has particular interest in promoting human rights, social justice and fighting corruption.

Before joining the European Commission, George Cunningham served as a United Nations official in New York (1987-1990) and was also an advisor on European integration to the Polish Council of Ministers in Warsaw (1992).

At the start of a busy and varied career, he served as an officer in the British Army, and worked in marketing for British Petroleum and British Telecom. He founded and ran a non-governmental organisation PACE International Affairs, educating young people in the UK about international relations. He is a graduate from Oxford University (MA Oxon Modern History).

He is a member of the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London. His book - Journey to Become a Diplomat - was published in 2005 in the USA by the Foreign Policy Association of New York. He has enjoyed encouraging youth to get involved in international affairs by lecturing at universities. He has spoken on numerous occasions at the European Parliament in his professional capacity.

George Cunningham has both Polish and British nationality.

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