Former Foreign Affairs Minister Stéphane Dion will not be Canada’s next ambassador to the European Union, the Prime Minister’s Office announced Monday afternoon in a press release.

“Today, the Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, announced the appointment of the Honourable Stéphane Dion as Canada’s Ambassador to Germany and his Special Envoy to the European Union (EU) and Europe. Following consultations with European partners, it was agreed that this appointment will best deliver on the Prime Minister’s commitment to strengthen Canada’s relations with Europe,” the press release said.

“The Prime Minister has exchanged letters with European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, his two counterparts in Canada-EU Leaders’ Summits, on the purpose of Mr. Dion’s role as Special Envoy to the EU and Europe. Mr. Dion will depart to take up his assignments in early May.”

On Friday, iPolitics reported that the unusual dual-appointment to Germany and the EU, announced on Jan. 31 after Dion was dropped from cabinet, was being stalled on the European end.

While the position of ambassador to Germany will soon be vacant, Canada already has an ambassador to the EU who is only two years into his four-year term.

Critics in the diplomatic community have suggested the attempt to create a dual appointment would have effectively cheapened the prestige of each posting.

Questions remain as to why Trudeau felt the need to try and give Dion two postings in the first place. The ambassadorship to Germany is among the most prestigious for Canadian diplomats.

Some former diplomats have speculated to iPolitics that the ousting of Dion in January may have led Trudeau to try and sweeten the blow.

Dion is set to appear at 8:45 Tuesday morning before the House of Commons foreign affairs committee to face questions about his appointment.