Today’s Movers & Shakers are about: Appointment of two new Director-Generals at the Commission, further developments on Poland's presidential elections, the EPPO confirms appointment of Acting Administrative Director, date for Croatia's parliamentary elections announced, the latest Commission appointments and more!
European Parliament
Committees and Delegations
Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee (LIBE)
Emmanouil FRAGKOS (ECR, EL) who was previously a substitute, has left the committee.
Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee (ECON)
Ryszard Antoni LEGUTKO (ECR, PL) who was previously a member, has left he committee.
Employment and Social Affairs Committee (EMPL)
Salima YENBOU (Greens/EFA, FR) who was previously a substitute, has left the committee.
Petitions Committee (PETI)
Monica SEMEDO (RE, LU) joins as a member.
Andrus ANSIP (RE, EE) joins as a member.
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European Commission
Directorates-General
Budget (BUDG)
José Antonio LOPEZ SANCHEZ replaces Kristian VANGRIEKEN as Head of Unit C4 (Recovery of debts). LOPEZ SANCHEZ will also continue in his role as Head of Unit C3 (Budgetary structure and validation of local systems) in an acting capacity.
European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO)
Raffaella IODICE replaces Valentina AURICCHIO as Head of Unit D4 (Asia, Latin America, Caribbean and Pacific). The former was performing the role in an acting capacity.
Health and Food Safety (SANTE)
Claire BURY has been transferred to the function of Deputy Director-General. BURY has most recently been Deputy Director-General at DG CNECT. The date of her appointment is still to be decided.
Human Resources and Security (HR)
Camelia CSORA replaces Matthias WILL as Head of Unit A5 (HR Business Intelligence). The former was performing the role in an acting capacity.
Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (MARE)
Charlina VITCHEVA has been appointed Director-General. VITCHEVA, a Bulgarian national, has been Deputy Director-General of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) for the past three and a half years. Her appointment will take effect on 1 June.
Structural Reform Support (REFORM)
Mario NAVA has been appointed Director-General. NAVA is currently Director for Horizontal Policies in DG FISMA. He will be replacing Maarten VERWEY, who has been performing the role in acting capacity since the DG was established in January of this year, on 1 June.
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EU Institutions, Agencies and Other
European Public Prosecutor’s Office
Member States have confirmed the appointment of Richard SONNENSCHEIN as Acting Administrative Director. SONNENSCHEIN is currently Principal Security Adviser at the Commission. Previously Sari HAUKKA (FI) has been shortlisted for the position however SONNENSCHEIN’s name was proposed by the Commission on 13 May.
Public Affairs
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National News
Austria
Following the resignation of Ulrike LUNCAEK, Andrea MAYER, has been announced as Secretary of State for Arts and Culture. MAYER has most recently served as Cabinet Director of Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen.
Croatia
President Zoran MILANOVIĆ has called parliamentary elections for 5 July. The decision to call the election comes after lawmakers voted earlier in the week to dissolve parliament. According to the latest opinion polls, the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (EPP) has regained its lead ahead of the Social Democratic Party (PES).
France
On Tuesday, President Emmanuel MACRON’s La République en Marche lost its outright majority in parliament after seven MPs in the lower house have left and formed a new group called "Écologie Démocratie Solidarité". The move means that MACRON’s party now only have 288 seats, one short of a majority in the 577-seat lower house.
Poland
Presidential elections are due to be held on 28 June. The election had originally been scheduled for 10 May however were ultimately postponed amid COVID-19 restrictions and political infighting related to the election. Incumbent President Andrzej DUDA is currently leading the latest polls. If no candidate wins 50% of the vote in the first round, a runoff will have to be held two weeks later.
