Haakon Blankenborg became Norway’s special representative to the Western Balkans in 2023. Before taking that position, he held several diplomatic and foreign ministry positions related to the Western Balkans/Southeast Europe. He was ambassador to The State Union of Serbia and Montenegro (2005-2006) and then to Serbia and to Montenegro (2006- 2010). Between 2019 and 2023 he was ambassador to Croatia. In the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway, he was senior adviser in 2010-2011. After that he became Director of the Western Balkans Section (2011-2012) and then hold the position of the Director of the Section for Southeast Europe between 2012 and 2019. He was also member of the parliament between 1981 and 2005 and participated in the work of the Enlarged and the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs (1993-2005) that he also chaired between 1993 and 2001.

Beyond that he also led several Norwegian delegations to the Council of Europe, EEA/EFTA as well as to the European Parliament. Mr Blankenborg was also member of the board of the European Movement in Norway in 1989-1992.