Keep track of developments in the European institutions and public affairs with our Movers and Shakers column.
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European Parliament
Committees and Delegations
Employment and Social Affairs Committee (EMPL)
Lucia Ďuriš Nicholsonová (RE, SK) has been reelected chair of the committee, winning 38 votes compared to runner-up Margarita de La Pisa Carrión (ECR, ES) who won 15 votes.
European Commission
Directorates-General and Services
Office for Infrastructure and Logistics – Brussels
Marc Seguinot replaces Marie-Pierre Darchy as head of department, operations and services in an acting capacity.
Giuseppe Scognamiglio replaces Cristina Querol Carceller as head of unit, transport, mobility and support services.
Bruno Wastin replaces Carole Micmacher-Grandcolas as head of unit, catering.
Simona Lupu replaces Marc Seguinot as head of department, childcare facilities. Seguinot was performing the role in an acting capacity.
Adriana Leroy replaces Philippe Loop as head of unit, kindergarten and childminding facilities.
Secretariat-General (SG)
Franck Conrad has been appointed head of unit A4 (France, Cyprus - Interinstitutional relations, Steering Board Secretariat).
Other EU Institutions and Agencies
European Environmental Agency
Luc Bas, formerly director of the European regional office of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, joins as head of coordination and strategy.
Public Affairs
European Women’s Lobby
Laura Kaun is now policy and campaigns officer. Kaun was formerly policy adviser to the Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee (FEMM) in the European Parliament.
FuelsEurope & Concawe
Luis Cabra (ES) has been unanimously appointed as president for a two-year term, succeeding Bela Kelemen, while Philippe Ducom has been appointed vice-president. Cabra is deputy CEO of REPSOL, executive managing director of Energy Transition, Sustainability and Technology, and a member of REPSOL’s executive committee.
Hague Corporate Affairs
Former Dutch prime minister (2002-2010) Jan Peter Balkenende has been appointed strategic adviser.
HeidelbergCement
Winston Beck has joined German multinational HeidelbergCement in June as director of government affairs for Europe. Previously, Beck was partner at Kreab, a global public affairs and communication firm, leading their Brussels’ energy and climate team.
Rasmussen Global
Former Irish minister Dara Murphy has joined as senior adviser.
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German Elections 2021 - stay informed about candidates and more!
Spotlight on... Christian Lindner (FDP)
Federal chair of the Free Democratic Party (FDP), Christian Lindner, was chosen as the party’s candidate for chancellor in the middle of May, having no obvious rivals. The 42-year-old has been embedded in the party since a young age. Lindner joined the FDP at the age of 16, at 21 he was the youngest member of the Düsseldorf state parliament and at 34 the youngest FDP leader of all time.
Lindner is often considered a divisive figure and is perhaps best known for his role in coalition talks between the FDP, Greens and CDU in 2017. During this time he pulled the party out of the coalition negotiations because he didn’t want to compromise the party’s principles, stating “it’s better not to govern than to govern badly”.
Despite this, the FDP is currently enjoying an upswing in support at national level, polling at 11%. And after ten years in which it failed to make it into Saxony-Anhalt’s state parliament, the party has now managed to get back in with 6.4 per cent.
As far as policy priorities are concerned, Lindner’s stance on most areas is in line with party’s guiding principles which are personal freedom and restricting the power of the state. On a wider EU-level, he supports developing digital and transport infrastructure and favours a European Hydrogen Union.
Sign up now to receive the full election package
Should you wish to keep abreast of all developments over the coming months, now is the time to sign up for Dods comprehensive 2021 German Elections Package which will be launched on 19 April. The service informs and helps public affairs teams design their communications strategies in the run up to and after the elections until the new Federal Government has been appointed.
Click here to view your free copy of the Guide to the Federal Election.
For more information please contact Sandra Fernandez at sandra.fernandez@dods.eu or call on 0044 207 593 5545.
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