European Parliament
Outgoing:
Jörg LEICHTFRIED (S&D, AT) left the Parliament with effect from 24 June. Karoline GRASWANDER-HAINZ is in line to replace him.
Manolis GLEZOS (GUE/NGL, EL) left the Parliament with effect from 8 July. Yannis MILIOS is in line to replace him.
Members of the Committees, Subcommittees and the Delegations:
Davor Ivo STIER (EPP, HR) switched from substitute to member of the Delegation to the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly (D-ACP).
Substitutes of the Committees, Subcommittees and the Delegations:
Doru-Claudian FRUNZULICĂ (S&D, RO) joined the Delegation to the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly (D-ACP).
Kazimierz Michał UJAZDOWSKI (ECR, PL) left the Committee on Petitions (PETI).
Janusz WOJCIECHOWSKI (ECR, PL) joined the Delegation to the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly (D-ACP).
Fredrick FEDERLEY (ALDE, SE) joined the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI).
Special Committees:
The mandate of the Special Committee on Tax Rulings and Other Measures Similar in Nature or Effect (TAXE) has been prolonged until the end of November.
Political groups:
Remo SERNAGIOTTO (IT) switched from EPP to ECR member with effect from 7 July.
Jana ŽITŇANSKÁ (SK) switched from member of bureau to member of ECR.
Branislav ŠKRIPEK (SK) switched from member to member of bureau of ECR.
National parties:
Ivan ŠTEFANEC (EPP, SK) joined the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH). STEFANEC was previously independent.
Jean-Marie CAVADA (ALDE, FR) left Nous Citoyens and is expected to create a new structure in autumn.
Bernd LUCKE (ECR, DE) resigned from the Alternative for Germany (AFD) of which he was founded member.
Valentinas MAZURONIS (ALDE, LT) left the Order and Justice and joined the Labour Party.
European Commission:
Directorates-General:
Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI) – Directorate D: Susanne NIKOLAJSEN became the new Head of Financial management of the EAGF Unit, replacing Ann BEKAERT.
Directorate J: Ingrid GARCIA-REYES became the new acting Head of Audit of Expenditure on Market measures Unit, replacing Susanne NIKOLAJSEN. Eduardo DE OLIVEIRA became the new acting Head of Financial audit Unit, replacing Conny OVERBEEKE.
Economic and Financial Affairs (ECFIN): Anne BUCHER became the new acting Director-General, replacing Maarten VERWEY.
Energy (ENER) – Directorate C: Pirjo-Liisa KOSKIMÄKI left her position as Adviser.
Directorate D: Andrea CARIGNANI DI NOVOLI is the new Head of International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) Unit, previously in DG RDT.
Internal Audit Service (IAS) – Directorate B: Jeffrey MASON appointed as Audit in Commission and Executive Agencies I Director.
Directorate C: Cristiana GIACOBBO appointed as Audit in Commission and Executive Agencies II Director. Edwin CROONEN is currently the Acting Director.
Joint Research Centre (JRC) – Directorate F: Franck WASTIN became the new Head of Nuclear Reactor Safety Assessment Unit, replacing Brian FARRAR.
Directorate J: Giampiero GENOVESE became the new Head of Agriculture and Life Science in the Economy Unit, replacing Emilio RODRIGUEZ CEREZO.
What’s new: The European Commission announced the appointment of David KING, Rianne LETSCHERT and António VITORINO (former European Commissioner for Justice and Home Affairs) as members of an Identification Committee that will assist the Commission in selecting the seven members of the High Level Group of the new Scientific Advice Mechanism (SAM). The SAM will be set up by autumn and will support the Commission with scientific advice for its policy-making activities.
Public Affairs:
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA): Thomas P. OSTEBO assumed his duties as the new President on 6 July.
The Pharmaceutical Group of the European Union (PGEU): Jurate SVARCAITE appointed as Secretary-General. She will take up her duties as of 10 August 2015.
News in a nutshell:
Greece: Greeks voted no to the referendum on the creditors’ proposals that was held on Sunday 5 July. The minister of finance Yanis VAROUFAKIS, Syriza (GUE/NGL) resigned and the bailout negotiator Euclid TSAKALOTOS took over.
Romania: The prime minister Victor PONTA, Social Democratic Party (S&D) assumed his duties after a surgery. Deputy prime minister Gabriel OPREA was appointed interim prime minister for three weeks, while PONTA was recovering.
Latvia: Minister of Defence Raimonds VĒJONIS, Green party officially took over from Andris BĒRZIŅŠ, Union of Greens and Farmers (ALDE) as President of Latvia on 8 July. Raimonds BERGMANIS, Green party became the new Minister of Defence.
Estonia: The Reform party (ALDE) nominated diplomat Marina KALJURAND as the new Foreign Minister, following the resignation of Keit PENTUS-ROSIMANNUS on 1 July. Her candidacy needs now to be approved by president Toomas Hendrik ILVES, Independent