European Parliament:
Outgoing:
Gabrielius LANDSBERGIS (EPP, LT) left his seat in the Parliament on 12 May. LANDSBERGIS, who is the leader of the Homeland Union - Lithuanian Christian Democrats, left the Parliament earlier than planned to focus on campaigning ahead of October's general elections. Former MEP Laima Liucija ANDRIKIENĖ is expected to return in Brussels to replace him.
Members of the Committees, Subcommittees and the Delegations:
Syed KAMALL (ECR, UK) joined the Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) and switched from substitute to member of the Delegation for relations with the United States (D-US).
Rikke KARLSSON (ECR, DK) left the Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) and the Delegation for relations with the United States (D-US).
Lieve WIERINCK (ALDE, BE) joined the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) and the Delegation for relations with the People's Republic of China (D-CN).
Marcus PRETZELL (ENF, DE) joined the Committee of Inquiry into Emission Measurements in the Automotive Sector (EMIS).
Georg MAYER (ENF, AT) left the Committee of Inquiry into Emission Measurements in the Automotive Sector (EMIS).
Substitutes of the Committees, Subcommittees and the Delegations:
Lieve WIERINCK (ALDE, BE) joined the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON), the Committee of Inquiry into Emission Measurements in the Automotive Sector (EMIS) and the Delegation for relations with the countries of Southeast Asia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) (D-ASE).
Monica MACOVEI (ECR, RO) joined the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET).
Hans-Olaf HENKEL (ECR, DE) left the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET).
Renato SORU (NI, IT) left the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) and the Delegation to the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee (D-TR).
Auke ZIJLSTRA (ENF, NL) joined the Delegation for relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo (D-SEE).
European Commission:
Directorates General:
Budget (BUDG):
Directorate A – Expenditure: with Juan José LOPEZ LLEDO became Head of Unit, CAP and Structural Policies, swapping roles with Philipe JOURET who moved to DG REGIO.
Climate (CLIMA):
Directorate B – European and International Carbon Markets: Metten QUINN became Head of Unit, B2. Implementation, replacing Ronald VELGHE who was acting in the role and remains as Deputy Director for the Directorate.
Communications Networks Content and Technology (CNECT):
Directorate E – Net Futures: Bernard BARANI became acting Head of Unit, Network Technologies, replacing Thibaut KLEINER.
Human Resources and Security (HR):
Directorate A – Organisational Development: Marta SILVA MENDES became Head of Unit, A3. HR Processes, IT and Reporting, replacing Director of the unit Matthias WILL who was acting in the role.
Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (MARE):
Directorate F – Resources: Dora CORREIA became acting Director, replacing Mark Johnston who moved to DG NEAR. Ms CORREIA continues in her Head of Unit role within the Directorate.
Directorate F – Resources: Deputy Head of Unit Andrew MATHISON became acting Head of Unit, F1. Budget, Public Procurement and Control, following Mark JOHNSTON’s move to DG NEAR.
Migration and Home Affairs (HOME):
Olivier ONIDI was appointed as Deputy Director-General "Migration and Asylum" as of 1 June. Mr ONIDI, currently Director "European Mobility Network" in DG MOVE will be tasked with the coordination of the Commission-wide work related to the Central Mediterranean Route in the framework of Commission's effort to address the refugee crisis.
Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (NEAR):
Directorate A – Strategy and Turkey: Allan JONES became Head of Unit, A1. Strategy, Policy Planning; EEA/EFTA, having served as acting Head since December 2015.
Resources: Mark JOHNSTON became Director, replacing Wojciech KOWALSKI who was acting in the role and remains as Head of Unit, Human Resources and IT. JOHNSTON moved from DG MARE where he was serving as acting Director for Resources.
Regional and Urban Policy (REGIO):
Directorate A – Budget and General Affairs: Phillipe JOURET became Head of Unit, A3. Budget and Financial Management, swapping roles with Juan José LOPEZ LLEDO who moved to DG BUDGET.
Taxation and Customs Union (TAXUD):
Directorate R – Resources: Monchil SABEV became Head of Unit, R2. Inter-institutional Relations, Coordination, Communication and Strategic Planning, swapping roles with Kristian VANGRIEKEN.
Directorate D – Direct Taxation, Tax Coordination, Economic Analysis and Evaluation: Kristian VANGRIEKEN became Head of Unit, D3. Control of the Application of EU Legislation and State Aid/Direct Taxation, replacing Monchil SABEV who moved into Ms VANGRIEKEN’s previous role.
Spokesperson’s Service:
Esther OSORIO joined the Foreign and Security Policy team as Press Officer.
European External Action Service (EEAS):
New Task Force: coming under Directorate A – Budget and Administration, ‘Task Force Regional Centre Europe’, is led by Corrado PAMPALONI who previously worked in the Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability Directorate as Head of Unit for Mission Support.
EU Military Staff: Lars-Olof CORNELIUSSON became Director, Intelligence, replacing Georgij ALAFUZOFF.
Public affairs:
Got any new appointment you would like us to include in our next newsletter? Contact Ifigenia Balkoura!
European Crop Protection Association (ECPA): appointed Andreas THIERFELDER as its new Director of Stewardship and Sustainability.
News in a nutshell:
Member states:
Austria: Christian KERN, Social Democratic Party (S&D) was sworn in as the new Chancellor, replacing Werner FAYMANN who resigned. The replacement of FAYMANN followed a planned reshuffle in the government, which saw ex MEP and Minister in the Regional Government of Styria, Jörg Leichtfried becoming the new Minister for Transport. The result of Sunday's presidential election is still too close to call and around 850,000 postal votes are still being counted. The final result will be known later on Monday. Read more.
Candidate countries:
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM): The MPs voted to delay the elections scheduled on 5 June, after the Constitutional Court ruled the dissolution of the parliament was unconstitutional.
Montenegro: The parliament approved a government reshuffle after the break-up of the ruling coalition and ahead of the elections later this year. The new cabinet is comprised by Democratic Party of Socialist, DPS, Bosnian, Albanian and Croatian minority parties and opposition parties. Petar IVANOVIĆ and Milorad VUJOVIĆ were appointed as Deputy Prime Ministers while Raško KONJEVIĆ was appointed as Minister of Finance, replacing Radoje ŽUGIĆ, who was dismissed.
Prime Minister Milo DJUKANOVIC, Democratic Party of Socialists signed a protocol on the Accession of the country to NATO that will allow it to participate in all NATO meetings as an observer, or invitee. Montenegro will be the 29th member of NATO once the protocol is ratified.
Turkey: Minister for Transport, Maritime and Communications Binali YILDIRIM was elected as Chairman of the the ruling Justice and Development Party (AECR) and therefore Prime Minister, replacing Ahmet DAVUTOGLU, who resigned.
