Today’s Movers & Shakers are about: Parliament's extraordinary plenary dates announced, Hungary's Fidesz face further expulsion threat, meet the new Irish Permanent Representative, the new Latvian economics minister, the latest Commission and institutional appointments, and more!
European Parliament
The Parliament is to hold extraordinary plenary sessions on 16 and 17 April to continue with parliamentary work on the special measures to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
Political Groups
Thirteen political parties within the European People’s Party have called for Hungary’s ruling Fidesz party to be removed from the alliance. The action comes after Hungarian prime minister Viktor ORBAN’s government was granted extraordinary powers to rule by decree for an indefinite time.
MEPs
Anna FOTYGA (ECR, PO) has been appointed as a member of a group of experts to reflect on strengthening NATO’s political dimension. The group of experts was formed by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.
Committees and Delegations
Human Rights Sub-committee (DROI)
Katalin CSEH (RE, HU) joins as a member.
Petitions Committee (PETI)
Rosa D’AMATO (NI, IT) joins as a substitute.
Transport and Tourism Committee (TRAN)
Rosa D’AMATO (NI, IT) who was previously a member, has left the committee.
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European Commission
Directorates-General
Communications Networks, Content and Technology (CONNECT)
Jakup BORATYNSKI replaces Khalil ROUHANA as Director of Directorate H (Digital Society, Trust & Cybersecurity) in an acting capacity.
Economic and Financial Affairs (ECFIN)
Declan COSTELLO replaces Werner RÖGER as Director of Directorate B (Investment, growth and structural reforms) in an acting capacity.
Internal Market, Industry Entrepreneurship and SMEs (GROW)
Julien GUERRIER steps down as Director of the Executive Agency for Small and Medium Enterprises EASME – Brussels, leaving a vacant position.
Office for Infrastructure and Logistics, Brussels
Marc BECQUET has been appointed as Director. BECQUET has been Director of the Office for Infrastructure and Logistics in Luxembourg since November 2016. The date of effect will be determined later.
Research and Innovation (RTD)
Julien GUERRIER has been appointed Director of Directorate A (Policy and Programming Centre), replacing Renzo TOMELLINI who was filing the role in an acting capacity.
Jean-Eric PAQUET replaces Wolfgang BURTSCHER as Deputy Director-General for Science and Policy Transitions in an acting capacity.
Secretariat-General (SG)
Peter WAGNER has taken on a role as Principal adviser, Clearing house for medical equipment (COVID-19). The position has been newly created and will be time-limited to deal with the current COVID-19 crisis. The job involves determining countries’ needs, screening what’s on offer, and acting as a matchmaker.
Spokespersons Service
Press Officer for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Alceo SMERILLI has left his position and taken up a new role in the EEAS.
Translation (DGT)
Costanza SCHIVI replaces Viviane VANOVERMEIRE as Head of Unit R2 (Budget and finance).
Berta CORDERO GONZALEZ replaces Anne PATERNOSTER as Head of Unit S4 (Evaluation and Analysis) in an acting capacity.
Mareks GRAUDINS replaces Mareks KOVALEVSKIS as Head of the Latvian Language department.
Want to know more? Click here for more information on our Dods People EU service.
Council of the European Union
Permanent Representations
Ireland
Declan KELLEHER steps down from the position of Permanent Representative to the EU this week. KELLEHER, who has been in the post since 2013, had previously postponed his retirement to remain in Brussels during the Brexit negotiations. He is to be replaced by Tom HANNEY, current Irish Ambassador to Austria.
EU Institutions and Agencies
European Banking Authority
François-Louis MICHAUD (FR) has been nominated as Executive Director.
European Central Bank
Fernando MONAR LORA (ES) has been appointed Director of Risk Management. He replaces Carlos BERNADELL, who is now adviser to the ECB Executive Board. MONAR LORA was previously Head of the Risk Analysis Division in the Directorate Risk Management (D-RM), a post he held since 2016.
European Public Prosecutor’s Office
Sari HAUKKA (FI) has been shortlisted for the position of interim Administrative Director. Consultations on this designation with the Council of the EU are still ongoing. HAUKKA is a lawyer who has been working in the EU institutions for the past 20 years.
European Securities and Markets Authorities (ESMA)
Magdalena ŁAPSA-PARCZEWSKA has been appointed Chair of the Advisory Committee on Proportionality (ACP). Effective 1 April, the position will last for two years.
Public Affairs
Vodafone Brussels
Erzsébet FITORI joins as group head of European Affairs relations beginning 1 June.
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National News
Hungary
The Hungarian parliament has voted to allow Prime Minister Viktor ORBAN to rule by decree. The decree does not have a set time limit.
Latvia
Janis VITENBURGS has been confirmed as the new Minister for the Economy, replacing Ralfs NEMIRO.
Poland
The Civic Platform (EPP) presidential candidate Małgorzata KIDAWA-BŁOŃSKA suspended her campaign this week in protest at the continuation of the 10 May election, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Draft legislation has been filed, which would give Polish citizens the ability to submit their vote via post.
