European Parliament:
Members of the Committees, Subcommittees and the Delegations:
Czesław HOC (ECR, PL) joined the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) and the Delegation for relations with the People's Republic of China (D-CN).
Sławomir Kłosowski (ECR,PL) joined the Delegation to the EU-Moldova Parliamentary Association Committee (D-MD) and the Delegation to the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly (D-EPA).
Substitutes of the Committees, Subcommittees and the Delegations:
Nicola CAPUTO (S&D, IT) joined the Delegation to the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly (D-LAT).
Rosa ESTARÀS FERRAGUT (EPP, ES) joined the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL).
Czesław HOC (ECR, PL) joined the Committee on Fisheries (PECH), the Delegation for relations with the countries of Central America (D-CAM) and the Delegation to the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly (D-LAT).
Sławomir Kłosowski (ECR,PL) joined the Committee on Regional Development (REGI) and the Delegation to the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly (D-ACP).
Political Groups:
GUE/NGL: Following her resignation from Syriza, Sofia SAKORAFA (EL) became member of the Bureau. Tania GONZÁLEZ PEÑAS (ES) joins the Bureau as well to replace Pablo IGLESIAS (ES) who resigned from his position in the Parliament.
Miloslav RANSDORF (CZ) suspended himself from the Group after he was arrested by Swiss police in a fraud case involving 350 million euros. The Group accepted his suspension.
Special committees:
Special committee on tax rulings and other measures similar in nature or effect (TAXE2):
At its constitutive meeting during the plenary session in Strasbourg the members of the committee have re-elected:
Alain LAMASSOURE (EPP, FR) as Chair,
Bernd LUCKE (ECR, DE) as First Vice-Chair,
Marisa MATIAS (GUE/NGL, PT) as Second Vice-Chair and
Eva JOLY (Greens, FR) as Third Vice-Chair.
New parliamentary inquiry committee:
The Parliament decided on Thursday 17 December to set up a parliamentary inquiry committee to investigate breaches of EU rules on car emission tests and alleged failures by EU member states and the European Commission to enforce EU standards. The committee will be comprised of 45 members and will present an interim report within 6 months, and a final report within 12 months, of starting its work.
European Commission:
Directorates General:
Communication (COMM):
Sixtine BOUYGUES and Margaritis SCHINAS, in addition to his role as Commission's Chief Spokesperson, joined the team as Deputy Directors-General on 16 December 2015.
Communications Networks Content and Technology (CNECT):
Claire BURY appointed Deputy Director-General as of 1 January 2016.
Justice and Consumers (JUST):
Tiina ASTOLA appointed Director-General as of 1 February 2016, replacing Francisco FONSECA MORILLO.
Mobility and Transport (MOVE):
Peter VIS appointed as Adviser.
European External Action Service (EEAS):
Budget and Administration Directorate-General:
Patricia LLOMBART CUSSAC took up his role as Security, Infrastructure, Budget and Information Technology Director on 16 December 2015, replacing Philippe RUYS.
Gianmarco DI VITA (currently Director Resources in the Secretariat General of the European Commission) appointed Director-General, replacing Patrick Anthony CHILD.
Americas Multilateral Department:
Edita HRDA (currently Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the United Nations) appointed Managing Director, replacing ROLAND SCHÄFER.
Africa Multilateral Department:
Koen VERVAEKE (currently Director for Horn of Africa, East & Southern Africa and Indian Ocean in the EEAS and Senior EU Coordinator for the Great Lakes region) appointed Managing Director.
Asia and Pacific Multilateral Department:
Gunnar WIEGAND (currently Director for Russia, Eastern Partnership, Central Asia, Regional Cooperation and OSCE in the EEAS) appointed Managing Director, replacing Ugo ASTUTO.
Human Rights, Global and Multilateral Issues Department:
Lotte KNUDSEN (currently Director for Human Development and Migration in DG International Cooperation and Development in Commission) appointed Managing Director, replacing Stephan AUER.
Committee of the Regions (CoR):
Members:
Dimitrios KALOGEROPOULOS (EPP, EL), Mick ANTONIW (PES, UK) and Mihai STEPANESCU (PES, RO) left their positions.
Alternates:
Krzysztof PASZYK (EPP, PL) and Ana OLLO HUALDE (NA, ES) left their positions.
European Agencies:
European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights: Michael O’FLAHERTY took up his role as Director on 16 December 2015, replacing Constantinos MANOLOPOULOS.
Public affairs:
European Federation of Energy Traders (EFET): Laurent CALDICHOURY (Engie), Christopher SCHEMERS (BP Gas Marketing), Fabrizio RINALDI (Edison Trading) and Marcus BOKERMANN (Vattenfall Energy Trading) were elected as Board members and Paul DAWSON (RWE S&T) and Domenico DE LUCA (Axpo Trading AG) were re-elected for a two-year period equally. Michal SKALKA (CEZ), Regina MANDIC (Verbund), Bernard WALTER (EnBW), Guido CUSTERS (Delta) and Stephen ASPLIN (E.ON Global Commodities), who were elected last year remain on the Board for another year.
European Steel Association (EUROFER): Geert VAN POELVOORDE elected as the new President for a two-year term, with immediate effect. Mr VAN POELVOORDE takes over from Robrecht HIMPE.
News in a nutshell:
Member states:
Spain: Spanish people headed to the polls on Sunday 20 December.
Candidate countries:
Serbia: Talks on the first two chapters of the accession process, Chapter 32 on financial control and Chapter 35 on the normalisation of relations between Serbia and Kosovo, opened on 14 December 2015.
Turkey: Ten years after the beginning of accession negotiations, negotiations of Chapter 17 on economic and monetary policy were opened on 14 December 2015.
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