Italian Ambassador to Kabul Ettore Sequi has been named the European Union's Special Representative in Afghanistan.
Sequi, 52, has served at the United Nations, Iran and Albania.
He has been in Kabul since December 2004.
Sequi was named on the recommendation of the EU's High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana.
Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said the appointment was ''further confirmation'' of the international community's appreciation of Italy's work in Afghanistan.
Sequi's appointment follows that of another Italian diplomat, Fernando Gentilini, as NATO's senior civilian representative in the Asian country.
Sequi will be tasked with boosting the EU's cooperation with other international forces, said a note from the foreign ministry here.
Gentilini, 45, was appointed on May 7. At the time he was the outgoing Italian government's deputy diplomatic advisor and formerly served as the EU's special envoy to Kosovo.
He was the first Italian to take on the NATO role, replacing the Netherlands' Daan W. Everts who stepped down in December.
Italy commands NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in the western Afghan province of Herat, where it deploys most of its 2,600 troops.
The contingent will be whittled down to 2,000 next month.
But Italy is set to send 500 soldiers to the turbulent southern region of Farah when it redeploys its forces after turning over command of the Kabul region to France next month.
Italian Defence Minister Ignazio La Russa visited Afghanistan at the start of July. The visit followed the Italian government's announced intention to modify its rules of engagement to allow Italian forces to be more flexible in response to NATO demands.
