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
Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
The committee has elected Andrzej Halicki (EPP, PL) as third vice-chair by acclamation. Halicki has said that his priorities in the role will be the protection of rights, rule of law and civil society support.
MEP News
The European Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee has chosen Geoffroy Didier (EPP, FR) as its rapporteur for the Digital Services Act while the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee (ECON) has chosen another French member Stéphanie Yon-Courtin (RE) as rapporteur for the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
Polish MEP Róża Thun (EPP) has left her national party Civic Platform (PO) after stating that she did not agree with the party’s line on issues such as the environment and immigration but said that party's abstention on a vote to pass the EU recovery fund was the last straw. Thun, who was very actively involved with the party in the 1970s and 80s, has said that she’s willing to continue her work in Parliament with the EPP group. She has said that she is “in favour of a tougher environmental stance,” and “accepting refugees and providing them with legal guardianship and humanitarian aid.”
European Commission
Directorates-General and Services
Communication (COMM)
Dana Spinant has been appointed deputy director-general in an acting capacity.
Competition (COMP)
Lluis Sauri Romero replaces Pierre Regibeau as head of unit, empirical analysis in complex merger and antitrust cases under the Chief Economist. Regibeau had been performing the role in an acting capacity.
Harold Nyssens replaces Karl Soukup as head of unit H3 (Fiscal aid). Soukup had been performing the role in an acting capacity.
Nicholas Banasevic replaces Guillaume Loriot as director of directorate C (Markets and cases II Information, Communication and Media) in an acting capacity.
Daniele Calisti replaces Paul Csiszar as head of unit E4 (Mergers).
Birthe Panhans replaces Henrik Mørch as head of unit F4 (Mergers). Mørch had been performing the role in an acting capacity.
Economic and Financial Affairs (ECFIN)
Luc Tholoniat moves from his role as principal adviser for sustainable growth and the European semester to director of directorate F (Economies of the Member States II) replacing Gabriele Giudice who was performing the role in an acting capacity.
FISMA
Sebastijan Hrovatin replaces Nathalie Berger as head of unit D1 (Banking regulation and supervision).
Justice and Consumers (JUST)
Nicolaas Bel replaces Niovi Ringou as head of unit C1 (Justice policy and rule of law) in an acting capacity.
Georgia Georgiadou replaces Barbara Nolan as head of unit C2 (Fundamental rights policy) in an acting capacity.
Structural Reform Support (REFORM)
Nathalie Berger replaces Daniele Dotto as director of directorate B (Support to Member States’ Reforms).
Riikka Torppa replaces Jerneja Jug as head of unit B1 (Revenue Administration & Public Financial Management) in an acting capacity.
Representations
Ireland
Barbara Nolan is the new head of the Commission’s representation in Dublin, replacing Andy Klom.
Public Affairs
Eurelectric
Jean-Bernard Lévy, Chairman and CEO of the Paris-based electricity utility EDF Group, has been elected President for a two-year mandate. Lévy takes over from Pat O’Doherty, CEO of ESB. During his Presidency, Lévy will be supported by two Vice-Presidents: Corina Popescu, CEO of Electrica, the Romanian electricity supplier and distribution operator, and Leonhard Birnbaum, CEO of the German energy supplier E.ON.
Public Affairs Council
João Sousa has been promoted to managing director of the European office.
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National News
Germany
Family minister Franziska Giffey stepped down from her role on Wednesday following a long running scandal regarding allegations of plagiarism of Giffey’s PhD thesis. There has been no immediate announcement on who will replace Giffey in government. Federal minister for justice and consumer protection, Christine Lambrecht, will cover the responsibilities of family, senior citizens, women and youth in the meantime.
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