The European Union on Monday named Andreas Reinicke, Germany's ambassador to Syria, as its new official envoy to the Middle East.  Reinicke replaces the outgoing Marc Otte, and he will represent EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.

In a statement, the EU said that Reinicke would “contribute to achieving the EU's policy objectives in the region, including a comprehensive peace, a two-state solution and a settlement of the Israeli-Syrian and Israeli-Lebanese conflicts."