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Giovanni Pietro Barbano is a Major General of the Italian Carabinieri with more than 40 years of experience in law and order, policing activities, and peace operations.
Prior to joining EULEX, the largest civilian mission under the Common Security and Defence Policy of the European Union, Barbano has held various command and staff positions, both in Italy and at international level.
From 2016 to 2023, Barbano served as the Director of the Centre of Excellence for Stability Police Units (CoESPU), which he helped establish in Vicenza in 2004. In this capacity, he also served as the President of the European Association of Peace Operations Training Centres (EAPTC) in 2016 and as Chair of the Police Board within the Executive Committee of the International Association of Peacekeeping Training Centres from 2018 to 2022.
Having attended the Italian Military Academy in Modena from 1980 to 1982, and the Carabinieri Officers School in Rome from 1982 to 1984, Barbano served in several positions within the structure of the Arma dei Carabinieri, including operational and senior management roles from precinct to regional level. In 1999, Barbano served as Chief of Plans and Military Police Section within the Operations Office at the Carabinieri General Headquarters in Rome, where he was responsible for planning and coordinating Carabinieri deployments to peace operations conducted under the aegis of the UN, NATO, the OSCE, the EU, and other international organizations. During this period, he was a delegate to the EU Committee for Civilian Aspects of Crisis Management (CivCom) and a member of the NATO Military Police Panel.
Barbano has also served twice in Bosnia and Herzegovina. From September 1995 until March 1996, he was the Deputy Chief of Operations for the Western European Union Police Mission in Mostar, whereas from 2007 to 2008, Barbano was the Commanding Officer of the Integrated Police Unit Regiment within the European Union Force Bosnia and Herzegovina, EUFOR “ALTHEA”, which constituted the first ever European Gendarmerie Force (EUROGENDFOR) deployment. Prior to this mission, Barbano served as the first Chief of Staff of the Permanent HQ of the EUROGENDFOR in Vicenza.
Barbano holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of Siena and another degree in International and Diplomatic Sciences from the University of Trieste. He also holds a Master’s Degree in Internal and External Security Science from the Tor Vergata University of Rome. In addition, he has completed three Postgraduate Master’s programmes in strategy and security studies.
Throughout his career, Barbano has received several international honours and decorations. He was bestowed with the Legion of Merit, Degree of Officer, by the President of the United States of America in 2019. In 2022, the President of the Italian Republic bestowed on him the Knight Cross of the Ordine Militare d’Italia.
In addition to his native Italian, Barbano is fluent in English and Spanish.
He is married and has a daughter.
