Keep track of developments in the European institutions and public affairs with our Movers and Shakers column.
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European Parliament
Political Groups
EPP
Manfred Weber announced this week that he will campaign to be re-elected as Chairman of the EPP Group. Weber will focus on continuing his work in the EPP Group and will not run for President of the European Parliament.
Committees and Delegations
Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET)
Daniel Caspary (EPP, DL) replaced Rasa Juknevičienė (EPP, LT) as a substitute.
European Commission
Directorates-General and Services
Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI)
Marc Ricker replaces Zoltan Somogyi as head of unit H3 (Assurance and Audit - Direct Payments) in an acting capacity.
Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (EMPL)
There has been a major restructure and the director level appointments include:
Joost Korte is the Deputy Director-General (Jobs, Skills and Social Policies) in an acting capacity.
Brigitte Fellahi-Brognaux is the director of directorate A (European Pillar of Social Rights, Strategy) in an acting capacity. She is also the head of unit A3 (Budget and Planning Cycle).
Manuela Geleng is the director of directorate B (Jobs and Skills).
Stefan Olsson is the director of directorate C (Working Conditions and Social Dialogue).
Katarina Ivankovic Knezevic is the director of directorate D (Social Rights and Inclusion).
Jordi Curell Gotor is the director of directorate E (Labour Mobility and International Affairs).
Barbara Kauffmann is the director of directorate F (Employment and Social Governance, Analysis).
Ruth Paserman is the director of directorate G (Funds: Programming and Implementation).
Franck Sébert is the director of the Joint Audit Directorate for Cohesion.
The fully updated information is available on Dods People EU.
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Migration and Home Affairs (HOME)
Silvena Pesta replaces Mauro Gagliardi as head of unit C1 (Irregular Migration and Return Policy) who had been covering the role in an acting capacity.
Angelina Gros Tchorbadjiska replaces Donatella Ineichen as head of unit F1 (Audit and Compliance) in an acting capacity.
International Partnerships (INTPA)
Agnieszka Skuratowicz replaces Annica Floren as head of unit G3 (Youth, Education and Culture) who had been covering the role in an acting capacity.
Taxation and Customs Union (TAXUD)
Gerassimos Thomas replaces Sabine Henzler as director of directorate E (International and General Affairs) in an acting capacity.
Other EU Institutions and Agencies
Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO)
Martin Ekvad’s mandate as President has come to an end. Francesco Mattina, the current Vice-Preisdent, will take over his responsibilities until a new president is appointed.
Public Affairs
Grayling
Habib Msallem has been appointed as Senior Manager for Communications in Brussels. Msallem previously worked at GESAC and Amfori.
National News
Greece
Christos Stylianides has been appointed to run the newly established Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection. Stylianides, a Cypriot national, will receive Greek citizenship before being sworn in on Friday.
Romania
Six ministers from the junior collation party, USR-Plus (ALDE), have resigned from the government. The decision was announced by their co-leader, and now former Deputy Prime Minister, Dan Barna.
In response to this, Florin Cîțu, the Prime Minister, appointed the interim ministers. Cîțu himself has replaced Cristian Ghinea as Minister of European Investment and Projects, Dan Vîlceanu replaced Cătălin Drulă as Minister of Transport and Virgil-Daniel Popescu replaced Claudiu Năsui as Minister of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Tourism. Attila Cseke is the new Minister of Health, replacing Ioana Mihăilă while Barna Tánczos is the Minister of Research and Digitalization taking over from Ciprian Teleman.
The National Liberal Party (EPP) led government was due to face a vote of confidence on Thursday but have managed to postpone the vote through parliamentary procedures. The Constitutional Court will rule on the situation and a date for the hearing will be announced in the near future.
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