Today’s Movers & Shakers are about: The Commission appoints its first Chief Trade Enforcement Officer, details of two new Director-Generals, the Council appoints 22 European prosecutors, the new Czech Permanent Representative, France names secretary of state for European affairs, and more!
European Parliament
The European Parliament is in recess over the summer holidays from 27 July to 23 August 2020.
Committees and Delegations
Substitutes
Diana Riba i Giner (Greens/EFA, ES) has left the Industry, Research and Energy Committee (ITRE).
European Commission
Directorates-General and Services
Environment (ENVI)
Florika Fink-Hooijer (DE) has been appointed new Director-General. Fink-Hooijer is currently Director-General in DG Interpretation (SCIC), a role which she has occupied since 2016. Prior to this, Fink-Hooijer served as Director for Strategy, Policy and International Cooperation in DG Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (ECHO) from 2012 to 2016. The date of effect of this appointment is yet to be determined.
Health and Food Safety (SANTE)
Nathalie Chaze will take on the function of Director, Food chain: stakeholder and international relations replacing Matthew Hudson who is currently filling the role in an acting capacity. The date of effect is yet to be determined.
Justice and Consumers (JUST)
Despina Vassiliadou becomes Head of Unit B2 (Procedural criminal law) filling a vacant position.
Mobility and Transport (MOVE)
Anne Montagnon has been appointed Director at the Shared Resource Directorate for DG MOVE and DG ENER. She is currently filling the role in an acting capacity.
Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations (NEAR)
Eric Gidrol replaces Sarah Rinaldi as Head of Unit R4 (Contracts and Finance (ENI)) in an acting capacity.
Taxation and Customs Union (TAXUD)
Gerassimos Thomas (EL) has been appointed new Director-General. An economist, Thomas has worked in several senior roles within the Commission including as Director, Treasury and Financial Operations in DG Economic and Financial Affairs (ECFIN) between 2009-14 and most recently as Deputy Director-General in DG Energy (ENER) from 2014-19. He was also Head of Cabinet for Commissioner Joaquín Almunia (Economic and Monetary Affairs) between 2006-09. The date of effect of this appointment is yet to be determined.
Dominik Schnichels replaces Lina Papamichalopoulou as Director of Diectorate A (Customs). The latter was performing the role in an acting capacity.
Trade (TRADE)
Denis Redonnet (FR) has been appointed Deputy Director-General, a role which encompasses the new role of Chief Trade Enforcement Officer (CTEO). The role of CTEO was first proposed by President Ursula von der Leyen in mid 2019 to monitor the implementation of European Union’s trade agreements and to work in tandem with the European Green Deal. Redonnet will play a pivotal role in monitoring and enforcing environmental and labor protection obligations of EU trade agreements with third countries
Redonnet is currently Director for WTO, Legal Affairs and Trade in Goods in DG Trade. Previously he headed the WTO division and the Strategy division of this DG. The date of effect of this appointment is yet to be determined.
Council of the European Union
European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO)
On Monday the Council appointed the 22 European Prosecutors as part of the first ever college of the EPPO. These individuals will work together with European Chief Prosecutor Laura Codruţa Kövesi (RO) to supervise investigations and prosecutions. Prosecutors are appointed for a non-renewable term of six years at the end of which the Council may decide to extend the mandate for a maximum of three years. However, one-third of the first college will hold a three-year non-renewable mandate. The EPPO is expected to start its operation at the end of 2020. It will be based in Luxembourg.
The 22 European Prosecutors are:
- Frédéric Baab (FR)
- Cătălin-Laurențiu Borcoman (RO)
- Jaka Brezigar (SI)
- Danilo Ceccarelli (IT)*
- Gatis Doniks (LV)
- Yvonne Farrugia (MT)
- Teodora Georgieva (BG)
- Daniëlle Goudriaan (NL)*
- Petr Klement (CZ)
- Tomas Krušna (LT)*
- Tamara Laptoš (HR)
- Katerina Loizou (CY)*
- Ingrid Maschl-Clausen (AT)*
- José Eduardo Moreira Alves d'Oliveira Guerra (PT)*
- Juraj Novocký (SK)
- Andrés Ritter (DE)
- Maria Concepción Sabadell Carnicero (ES)*
- Gabriel Seixas (LU)
- Kristel Siitam-Nyiri (EE)
- Harri Tiesmaa (FI)
- Yves Van Den Berge (BE)
- Dimitrios Zimianitis (EL)*
*= appointed for 3 years
Permanent Representations
Czech Republic
Ambassador Jakub Dürr will be leaving his position October to be replaced by Edita Hrdá, managing director for the Americas at the EU’s External Action Service (EEAS). Prior to commencing her role with the EEAS in 2016 Hrdá held several positions in the Czech Republic’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs, which she joined in 1992. In 2011 she was appointed as Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic to the United Nations and before that that she was Director-General of the Minister’s Section, Director-General of the Economic and Cultural Section, Director of the American Department, Director of Multilateral Economic Affairs and Director of Central Europe Department.
EU Institutions and Agencies
Committee of the Regions
Gaetano Armao (EPP, IT), vice-president and regional minister of the Region of Sicily, has been appointed President of the Insular Regions Intergroup. The mandate will last until 2025. The Intergroup gathers members who come from island regions, with the aim of defending the interests of the approximately 17 million inhabitants who live in the two thousand islands that are part of EU countries.
European External Action Service (EEAS)
The Council has appointed Tomáš Szunyog (CZ) as Special Representative for Kosovo, replacing Nataliya Apostolova (BG) who has been in the role since 2016. Szunyog, who is currently the Czech Republic’s Permanent Representative on the Political and Security Committee (PSC) will take up the position as of 1 September.
European Space Agency (ESA)
Spanish minister for science and innovation, Pedro Duque, has officially announced his candidacy to succeed Jan Wörner (DE) as Director-General. Wörner’s tenure comes to an end on 30 June 2021.
Public Affairs
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National News
France
Clément Beaune has been named the new secretary of state for European affairs replacing Amélie de Montchalin who was promoted to minister of transformation and the public sector. Beaune, a graduate of France's ENA school of administration, has previously worked as budget advisor to former prime minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, before joining President Emmanuel Macron's staff at the economy ministry.
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