Janez Lenarčič

Janez Lenarčič (born 6 November 1967) is a Slovenian diplomat who served as European Commissioner for Crisis Management in the first Von der Leyen Commission from 2019 to 2024. He is a former director of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights within the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

Early life and education Lenarčič appears before the European Parliament in 2019 for his confirmation hearing as European Commissioner for Crisis Management. Lenarčič holds a degree in international law from the University of Ljubljana, 1992.

Career in diplomacy Lenarčič entered the Slovenian foreign service in 1992 . His first posting in 1994-1999 was at the Mission of Slovenia to the United Nations in New York.

In early March 2020, Lenarčič was appointed by von der Leyen to serve on the commission's special task force to coordinate the European Union's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lenarčič term ended 30 November 2024, as von der Leyen's second Commission acceded.

Awards Lenarčič received France's highest award, the Légion d'honneur.