Today’s Movers & Shakers are about: Easing of COVID-19 restrictions in Parliament, the new Head of the Commission's Representation in Italy, Incumbent Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union has mandate renewed, backlash around Polish presidential elections, the latest Commission, public affairs appointments, and more!
European Parliament
A plan on easing COVID-19 restrictions in the Parliament has been drawn up by Secretary-General Klaus WELLE. The measures included in this plan include mandatory wearing of face-masks and temperature checks at Parliament entrances for all MEPs.
While the plans have been approved by senior MEPs and President David SASSOLI, no official date has been given for the implementation of these measures.
Committees and Delegations
Mediterranean Delegation (D-MED)
Ilana CICUREL (RE, FR) has joined as a substitute.
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European Commission
Directorates-General
Budget (BUDG)
Gert-Jan KOOPMAN replaces Silvano PRESA as Deputy Director-General in an acting capacity on top of his role as Director-General.
Environment (ENV)
Miguel SAGREDO FERNANDEZ replaces Silvia BARTOLINI as Head of Unit A1 (Coordination, Inter-Institutional Relations & Planning) in an acting capacity.
Mattia PELLEGRINI replaces Sarah NELEN as Head of Unit B3 (Waste Management & Secondary Materials).
Michel SPONAR replaces Matjaz MALGAJ as Head of Unit C2 (Marine Environment & Water Industry) in an acting capacity.
Taxation and Customs Union (TAXUD)
Lina PAPAMICHALOPOULOU replaces Susanne AIGNER as Head of Unit A2 (Customs legislation). PAPAMICHALOPOULOU is replaced in her previous role as Head of Unit A3 (Risk management and security) by Gaetan NICODEME. NICODEME is replaced in his previous role as Head of Unit D4 (Economic analysis, evaluation & impact assessment support) by Ana XAVIER.
Momchil SABEV replaces Caroline EDERY as Head of Unit C4 (Tax administration and fight against tax fraud). SABEV is replaced in his previous role as Head of Unit E2 (Inter-institutional relations, coordination, communication and strategic planning) by Veerle DE LEEUW in an acting capacity.
Caroline EDERY replaces Stijn MEULEMAN as Head of Unit E1 (Finances & HR business correspondent). The former was in the role in an acting capacity.
Astrid VAN MIERLO replaces Tom NEALE as Head of Unit D2 (Direct tax policy & cooperation) in an acting capacity.
Representations and Delegations
Antonio PARENTI has been appointed as head of the Commissions representation in Italy. He will commence the role on 1 June.
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EU Institutions, Agencies and other
Council of the European Union
Incumbent Secretary-General Jeppe TRANHOLM-MIKKELSEN has been reappointed for a second five-year term. The new five-year term of TRANHOLM-MIKKELSEN will run from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2025.
European Court of Justice
Advocate General Eleanor SHARPSTON QC has begun legal action against the EU over her removal from the Court in the wake of Brexit. SHARPSTON, who was first appointed in 2006, kept her job when the UK left the EU at the end of January, unlike her UK counterparts in Luxembourg. By law, the post of advocate general is not attached to any particular member state, however on 31 January the Court’s president Koen LENAERTS wrote a letter to the Council of the EU declaring a vacancy from 1 February and asking member states to nominate a new advocate general to the post. A Greek replacement has already been found. SHARPSTON’s tenure is due to come to an end in October 2021.
Public Affairs
British American Tabacco
Eric SENSI-MINAUTIER has taken over as vice president of EU affairs. He joined the EU office from BAT France, where he was director of legal, public affairs and communications.
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National News
Poland
The ruling Law and Justice (ACRE) party has continued to push for presidential elections to take place on 10 May despite significant backlash. More than 600 Polish judges have urged the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to call on the government to delay elections and EPP president Donald TUSK has said that he will not participate and has urged others not to vote. Poland’s Supreme Court has also positioned itself against the elections, issuing an opinion stating that the effort to allow the vote “should not be subject to further legislative work.”
