Today’s Movers & Shakers are about: May plenary highlights, a Romanian MEP joins ECR group, four senior management position appointments at the Commission, DG TAXUD gets an acting director-general, other institutional, public affairs appointments, and more!
European Parliament
Three MEPs – Peter LIESE (EPP, DE), Chrysoula ZACHAROPOULOU (RE, FR) and Manuel PIZARRO (S&D, PT) – have returned to their professions as physicians, on a part-time basis, to support the healthcare workers in their countries of origin during the COVID-19 crisis. These three MEPs have since penned a joint paper calling on the EU institutions to make health policy a priority and to establish a dedicated European Health response mechanism. According to the paper, the mechanism would constitute the “first step for a common and innovative European health policy, ensuring operational coordination, restoring European autonomy on medical goods and enhancing cooperation on research.”
Plenary highlights
At May’s plenary session, the focus was again on the COVID-19 crisis and particularly on how the EU budget can help Europe exit the crisis. Parliament stressed that the next long-term EU budget must be ambitious and future-oriented, and the recovery fund must be a part of it. On top of this, MEPs made the key demand that Parliament be properly involved in the process of setting up and implementing the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).
On Thursday MEPs discussed the benefits of contact tracing apps to be used in conjunctions with other social distancing and public health measures in the fight against the spread of COVID-19. It was highlighted that while contact tracing apps will help to manage the spread of the virus, considerations surrounding the safety of citizens’ personal data must be taken into account. Therefore, any app must be truly voluntary, non-discriminatory and transparent.
Political Groups
Cristian TERHEȘ has left his national party the Social Democratic (PSD) to join the Christian Democratic National Peasants' Party (PNȚ-CD). This means he moves groups in Parliament from S&D to ECR.
European Commission
Directorates-General
Eurostat (ESTAT)
Frantisek BERNADIC has been appointed Director of Directorate C (Macro-economic statistics). BERNADIC is currently Vice-President of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic since 2007. He will replace John VERRINDER who is performing the role in an acting capacity.The date of effect is still to be determined.
Joint Research Centre (JRC)
Current Deputy Director-General in the Directorate-General for Human Resources and Security (HR), Bernard MAGENHANN, will be transferred to Deputy Director-General in charge of Directorates C, G, R effective 16 May.
Justice and Consumers (JUST)
Carina TORNBLOM has been appointed Adviser for consumer protection strategies and stakeholder relations in Directorate E (Consumers).
Publications Office (OP)
Franck NOËL has been appointed Director of Information Management. NOËL is currently Principal Manager in the European Court of Auditors. The date of effect is still to be determined.
Research and Innovation (RTD)
Waldemar KÜTT has been appointed as Principal Adviser. KÜTT will be seconded from this Principal Adviser function to the European Research Council Executive Agency (ERCEA) in Brussels where he will exercise the role of Director of the Executive Agency. His mandate as Director of the Agency runs for four years. The date of effect is still to be determined
Taxation and Customs Union (TAXUD)
Philip KERMODE has been appointed Acting Director-General to replace Stephen QUEST following the latter’s move to the JRC. KERMODE also continues in his role as Director of Directorate A (Customs).
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EU Institutions, Agencies and other
Committee of the Regions
Thomas STELZER (EPP, AT) has been appointed as a member replacing Markus ACHLEITNER following the end of his term.
Markus ACHLEITNER (EPP, AT) has been appointed as an alternate replacing Viktor SIGL.
World Trade Organisation (WTO)
The EU has nominated Joost H. B. PAUWELYN as its candidate for arbitrator for the multi-party interim appeal arbitration arrangement (MPIA), a stopgap solution in the absence of an operational WTO Appellate Body. The MPIA provides participating WTO members with a functioning and independent two-tier dispute settlement system in disputes between them. PAUWELYN is a professor of International Law at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva.
Public Affairs
COCIR
Bernt BIEBER has been elected as President with a mandate of four years. BIEBER, who is currently Senior Vice-President, Direct Sales with Siemens Healthineers, succeeds Jan KIMPEN, who held the post since 2018.
European Association of Communications Agencies (EACA)
Chief executive of Ogilvy EMEA, Paul O’DONNELL, has been elected as President for a two-year term. He succeeds Dominic GRAINGER.
The European Organisation for Packaging and the Environment (EUROPEN)
Francesca STEVENS has been appointed as Managing Director. STEVENS joins EUROPEN from Arconic where she led Government Affairs and Business Development in the European region. She will assume her role as of 1 June.
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National News
Poland
Poland’s presidential elections which were set to be held 10 May were ultimately suspended amid intensifying criticism over the viability of pushing forward with a vote during the COVID-19 pandemic. Poland’s electoral body has given the speaker of parliament 14 days to set a new date for elections and the election must be held within 60 days of this announcement. Polish lawmakers have also modified rules around the election and made it possible to vote in person at polling station with the option to also vote by mail.
