Chairperson
Florian Raunig is an Austrian career diplomat having served many years in South East Europe. He served as Austrian Ambassador to Montenegro (2007-2009) and to Albania (2009-2013). From 2013 Florian to 2016 he served he headed the OSCE Presence in Albania. Having started his career 1996 in Elbasan as a University lecturer he joined the OSCE Presence in Albania in 1997, opening the Field Offices in Shkodra and Bajram Curri. Florian later reopened the Austrian Development Cooperation Office in Tirana and opened the Office in Skopje (1998-2000). From 2000-2002 he was programme manager for local development at the Delegation of the European Commission in Tirana. In 2002 Florian entered the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, serving in Vienna and Ljubljana. In 2004 he joined the newly founded Austrian Development Agency. He graduated in Political Science and Philosophy from the University of Vienna (Mag. phil.) and holds the title of a Doctor Honoris Causa from the POLIS University in Tirana. Florian is honorary citizen of the Commune of Bushat and was awarded the Medal of Gratitude by the President of Albania. Besides his mother tongue German, he speaks Albanian, English, French, Italian and Montenegrin.