Today’s Movers & Shakers are about: The new JRC Director-General, Hungary's new Permanent Representative, EU's top scientist resigns, UK PM remains in intensive care, the latest Commission, public affairs appointments and more!
European Parliament
Political Groups
The status of Fidesz within the EPP has come into further question this week as thirteen national delegations within the group have called for Viktor ORBAN’s party to be removed. MEPs from Benelux countries, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Portugal, Poland, Malta, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Estonia and Ireland signed the letter to group leader Manfred WEBER on Wednesday.
Committees and Delegations
Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee (ECON)
Mick WALLACE (GUE/NGL, IE) joins as a substitute.
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European Commission
Directorates-General
Joint Research Centre (JRC)
Current Director-General of Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union, Stephen QUEST has been appointed as the new Director-General. QUEST joined the Commission in 1993 and has been Director of the Office for the Administration and Payment of Individual Entitlements (PMO) from 2010 until 2013, and then Director-General of Directorate-General for Informatics (DIGIT) for nearly three years. He became Director-General of TAXUD in 2016. QUEST will start his new post as of 1 May.
Regional and Urban Policy (REGIO)
Rafael LOPEZ SANCHEZ replaces Olivia JORDAN as Head of Unit C3 (Audit II). The former was filling the role in an acting capacity.
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Council of the European Union
The Croatian Presidency announced on Tuesday that all informal meetings in Croatia would be postponed until 15 May. The EU-Western Balkans summit which was scheduled to take place in Zagreb on 7 May will be postponed until an agreed date in June.
Permanent Representations
Hungary
Former Deputy Permanent Representative Tibor STELBACZKY has been appointed Permanent Representative and will now represent at Coreper II. Gábor BARANYAI has become Deputy Permanent Representative and represents the Hungarian Government in the Coreper I.
Ireland
Gerard BUCKLEY replaces Philip BRENNAN as Military Representative to EU Military Committee.
EU Institutions and Agencies
European Research Council
Following a unanimous vote of no-confidence by the Scientific Council, President Mauro FERRARI has resigned.
Public Affairs
Burson Cohn and Wolfe
Andrew CECIL has been named Chief Executive Officer replacing Karen MASSIN who has led the Brussels office for the past six years.
European Competitive Telecommunications Association (ECTA)
Carl GRIVNER, Chief Executive Officer of Colt Technology Services and Marc SCHÜTZE, Member of the Executive Board of Drillisch Netz AG, have been appointed as new Directors of the Board. The Board of Directors have reelected Emmanuel FOREST for a further term as Chair of the Board and Neven PETKOV DILKOV as Vice-chair.
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National News
Ireland
Taoiseach Leo VARADKAR has offered his services to the Irish Health Service Executive and will work one day a week as a doctor to assist with the COVID-19 pandemic. VARADKAR was a junior doctor before becoming a qualified GP in 2010 but later quit medicine to become a full-time politician.
Poland
Deputy prime minister Jarosław GOWIN has resigned in opposition to the presidential elections to be held 10 May. Current economy minister Jadwiga EMILEWICZ has been nominated to replace him.
United Kingdom
Prime minister Boris JOHNSON was admitted to hospital late Sunday for persistent symptoms related to coronavirus and placed in intensive care on Monday evening. Foreign Secretary Dominic RAAB will deputise for JOHNSON and take on prime ministerial responsibilities.
Keir STARMER won the race to replace Jeremy CORBYN as leader of Labour Party (PES) over the weekend.
