European Parliament:
Outgoing:
Juan Carlos GIRAUTA VIDAL (ALDE, ES) has left his seat in the European Parliament to take on his new position as an MP in the Spanish Parliament. His replacement has not been decided yet.
Chairs and Vice-Chairs of the Committees, Subcommittees and the Delegations:
Jasenko SELIMOVIC (ALDE, SE) became Vice-Chair of the Delegation for relations with Switzerland and Norway and to the EU-Iceland Joint Parliamentary Committee and the European Economic Area (EEA) Joint Parliamentary Committee (D-EEA).
Members of the Committees, Subcommittees and the Delegations:
Zdzisław KRASNODĘBSKI (ECR, PL) joined the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE).
Substitutes of the Committees, Subcommittees and the Delegations:
Daciana Octavia SÂRBU (S&D, RO) joined the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO).
Victor NEGRESCU (S&D, RO) left the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO).
Amjad BASHIR (ECR, UK) joined the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE).
Zdzisław KRASNODĘBSKI (ECR, PL) switched from member to substitute of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL).
Geoffrey VAN ORDEN (ECR, UK) left the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) and joined the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE).
Mike HOOKEM (EFDD, UK) joined the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE).
Political Groups:
ECR: Branislav ŠKRIPEK (SK) switched from Bureau member to member of the Group and Jana ŽITŇANSKÁ (SK) became a member of the Bureau.
National Parties:
Jens ROHDE (ALDE, DK) left Venstre, Liberal Party of Denmark over controversial asylum policies and joined the Danish Social Liberal Party.
European Commission:
Directorates General:
Budget (BUDG):
Directorate A – Expenditure: Ricardo LIZCANO COLET became the new acting Head of Administrative appropriations and Allocation of human resources Unit, replacing Ekaterini PHILANIOTOU.
Directorate D – Central Financial Service: Michael ERHART became the new Head of Financial Regulations Unit, replacing Tobias LAMBECK. Maria Victoria GIL CASADO became the new Head of Procurement, contracts and grants Unit, replacing Florence BOUVRET.
Communications Networks Content and Technology (CNECT):
Claire BURY took up her role as Deputy Director-General on 1 January 2016.
Human Resources and Security (HR): New structure
Directorate A - Organisation and Executive Staff - CCA Permanent Rapporteur became Organisational Development: Matthias WILL (previously Director of Directorate R) is the new Director.Directorate B - HR Core Processes 1: Career became Talent Management and Diversity: Christian LEVASSEUR remains Director.
Directorate C - HR Core Processes 2: Social Policy and Health became Talent Management and Diversity – Executive Staff: Hendrik POST (previously Director of Directorate A) is the new Director.
Directorate D - Legal Affairs, Communication and Stakeholder Relations became Health and Wellbeing – Working Conditions: Fernando GARCIA FERREIRO is the new Director.
New Directorate E - Legal Affairs and Partnerships: Marco-Umberto MORICCA is the new Director.
Directorate DS - Security: Ilkka SALMI is the new Director.
Informatics (DIGIT):
Gertrud INGESTAD became the new acting Director-General, replacing Stephen QUEST.
Directorate B - Digital Business Solutions: Angello TOSETTI became the new acting Director, replacing Gertrud INGESTAD.
New Directorate S – IT Security: Ken DUCATEL, former Principal Adviser, is the new Director.
Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (MARE):
Directorate A – Policy Development and Co-ordination: Fabrizio DONATELLA became the new Head of Fisheries control policy Unit, replacing Valérie LAINE. Elisa ROLLER became the new Head of Common fisheries policy and aquaculture Unit, replacing Joost PAARDEKOOPER. Frangiscos NIKOLIAN became the new Head of Structural policy and economic analysis Unit, replacing Elisa ROLLER.
Directorate D – Mediterranean and Black Sea: Valérie LAINE became the new Head of Fisheries conservation and control - Mediterranean and Black Sea Unit, replacing Fabrizio DONATELLA. Fabrizia BENINI became the new Head of Structural actions: Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Cyprus, Malta, Romania, Slovenia, Croatia Unit, replacing Frangiscos NIKOLIAN.
Regional and Urban Policy (REGIO):
The European Commission announced the continuation of the Northern Ireland Task Force, in order to help the region to take part more actively in the EU policy process and benefit from the EU programmes.
Taxation and Customs Union (TAXUD):
Stephen QUEST took up his role as Director-General on 1 January 2016, replacing Heinz ZOUREK.
Spokesperson’s Service:
Financial Services and Capital Markets Union: Letizia LUPINI is the new Press Officer.
Representations in Member States:
Malta: Elena GRECH took up her role as Head of the European Commission Representation on 1 January 2016, replacing Diane SPITERI.
Slovenia: Zoran STANČIČ took up his role as Head of Commission Representation on 1 January 2016, replacing Nataŝa GORŜEK MENCIN.
What’s new: The Single Resolution Mechanism (SRM) and the full resolution powers of the Single Resolution Board (SRB) came into effect on 1 January 2016. The SRM implements the EU-wide Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive in the euro area while the SRB’s mission is to resolve failing banks. Elke KÖNIG is chairing the SRB.
European External Action Service (EEAS):
Kęstutis LANČINSKAS was appointed as Head of the European Union Advisory Mission Ukraine, replacing Kalman MIZSEI as of 1 February 2016.
European Central Bank:
Secretariat Directorate-General: Pedro Gustavo TEIXEIRA took up his role as Director-General on 1 January 2016, replacing Pierre VAN DER HAEGEN.
Single Supervisory Mechanism: Petra SENKOVIC took up her role as Director to the Secretariat to the Supervisory Board on 1 January 2016, replacing Pedro Gustavo TEIXEIRA.
European Agencies:
European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction: On 1 January 2016, Alexis GOOSDEEL took up his role as Director, replacing Wolfgang GÖTZ and Laura D’ARRIGO took up her role as Chair of the Management Board, replacing João GOULÃO.
Committee of the Regions (CoR):
Members:
Fernando CLAVIJO BATLLE (ALDE, ES) joined as member. Antonio DECARO (PES, IT), former alternate, became a member.
Alternates:
Georgios PATOULIS (EPP, EL), Andrea BALLARÈ (PES, IT) and Maria Luisa de MIGUEL ANASAGASTI (ALDE, ES) joined as alternates.
Johannes PEINSTEINER (EPP, AT) and John Robert PRICE (PES, UK) left their positions as alternate.
Public affairs:
Cefic: Marco MENSINK appointed as Director General as of 1 May, pending ratification by the Cefic General Assembly taking place in Florence on 7 October 2016. Mr MENSINK will take over from Hubert MANDERY who retires on 30 April and will be joining Cefic on 15 March for a smooth transition.
Confederation of European Forest Owners (CEPF): Aljoscha REQUARDT decided to step down as Secretary-General of the Confederation and take up a new role in the Department of International Forest Policy of the German Ministry for Food and Agriculture in mid-April. Emma BERGLUND, currently Policy Adviser and Coordinator for the Nordic Forest Family Network will take over the position as of 1 March 2016.
Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE): Michel BENICHOU elected as the new President.
ECSEL Joint Undertaking: Bert DE COLVENAER took up his role as Executive Director, replacing Dr. Andreas WILD who retired at the end of 2015.
European Association of Automotive Suppliers (CLEPA): Roberto VAVASSORI begun his term as President on 1 January, succeeding Arnaud DE DAVID-BEAUREGARD.
European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA): Martin LUNDSTEDT, President and CEO of Volvo Group has been elected as Chairman of the Commercial Vehicle Board of Directors for 2016, taking over from Henrik HENRIKSSON, CEO of Scania Trucks. Dieter ZETSCHE, CEO of Daimler was also elected as President of the Board of Directors for a year-long term, replacing Carlos GHOSN, CEO of Renault Group.
European Community Shipowners' Associations (ECSA): Niels SMEDEGAARD’s succeeded Thomas REHDER in the helmet of the Presidency.
European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN): Fabiola GIANOTTI took up her role as Director-General for a 5-year term on 1 January 2016, replacing Rolf HEUER.
European Society for Paediatric Oncology (SIOPE): Professor Martin Schrappe appointed as the new President, starting from 1 January.
FTI Consulting: Sir Philip LOWE appointed as Senior Advisor in the Public affairs practise of the Strategic Communication segment in London and Brussels. Among other roles, Sir LOWE has served as Director-General for Development, Competition and Energy in the European Commission.
Guardian: Jennifer RANKIN joined the Brussels team as Correspondent.
International Road Transport Union (IRU): Christian LABROT officially took up his role as the new President for a two-year term.
Save the Children: Ex-Prime Minister of Denmark Helle THORNING-SCHMIDT was appointed as the new Chief Executive, replacing Jasmine WHITBREAD. She will take up her position on 4 April and will be based at Save the Children International’s headquarters in London.
Radio Spectrum Policy Group (RSPG): Philip MARNICK and Jonas WESSEL began their terms as Chair and Vice-Chair respectively as of 1 January.
World Association for Market, Social and Opinion Research (ESOMAR): Enrique DOMINGO has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Professional Standards Committee for a three-year term starting January 2016. Mr DOMINGO succeeds Adam PHILLIPS in the helmet of the Committee.
World Vision Brussels: Justin BYWORTH, former World Vision UK CEO has been appointed as the organisation’s new Director in Brussels, starting on 14 December. Mr BYWORTH replaces Marius WANDERS who retired on 31 August 2015.
Interested in EU Public Affairs stakeholder? Find more information in the new 2016 edition of European Union & Public Affairs Directory (EPAD). This directory is the definitive guide to EU instituions and public affairs professionals.
News in a nutshell:
European Parliament:
MEPs are heading to Strasbourg from Monday 18 to Thursday 21 January for the plenary session.
MEPs Eva KAILI (S&D, EL) and Nikos ANDROULAKIS (S&D, EL) sent a letter to President Martin SCHULZ (S&D, DE) to express their opposition to the initiative of Marijana PETIR (EPP, HR) to create an unofficial group in the European Parliament under the name “Friends of Macedonia”. The MEPs highlighted in their letter the fact that both the EU and the European Parliament recognise the neighbouring country with the temporary name, “Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”, under which it was accepted at the United Nations General Assembly in 1993 on a recommendation from the Security Council.
Member states:
Bulgaria: Ekaterina ZAHARIEVA, Independent took over Hristo IVANOV, Independent as Minister of Justice on 18 December 2015. Mr IVANOV had resigned earlier in December after the Parliament voted against an article to curb the chief prosecutor’s power in the Supreme Judicial Council within the framework of constitutional reform of the judiciary.
Croatia: Pharmaceutical Executive Tihomir ORESKOVIC was nominated to become Prime Minister, after weeks of talks following the inconclusive elections that took place on 8 November. Technocrat ORESKOVIC now has 30 days to get his cabinet approved by the Parliament.
Greece: Ex-Finance Minister Yanis VAROUFAKIS, Syriza (GUE-NGL) announced his intention to form a pan-European movement, the launch of which will take place on 9 February in Berlin.
Latvia: Following the resignation of Laimdota STRAUJUMA, People’s Party, President Raimonds VĒJONIS has nominated MP Māris KUČINSKIS, Greens and Farmers Union (ALDE) to become Prime Minister. The coalition parties will now have to come to an agreement on the new government and present candidates for the ministerial posts.
Spain: The People’s Party (EPP) of Mariano RAJOY won most of the seats in the elections that took place on 20 December but lost its parliamentary majority. Coalition talks are ongoing. On Catalonian news, the political deadlock was avoided after the pro-independence Junts pel Sí bloc and the anticapitalist Popular Unity Candidacy (CUP) reached a deal and Carles PUIGDEMONT was appointed as Catalonian Premier.
United Kingdom: David CAMERON, Conservatives (ECR) vowed that he will remain Prime Minister even if he loses EU referendum. Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Fine Gael (EPP) on the other hand stated that Ireland would not hold a referendum on EU membership if Britain votes to leave.
Dods is bringing together its expertise from across Europe to give you the most comprehensive EU referendum coverage. Our fortnightly bulletin will keep you updated on developments in the UK’s EU referendum. More information.
Candidate countries:
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia: Prime Minister Nikola GRUEVSKI, VMRO DPMNE (EPP) is to step down on 15 January. A new candidate, who will be tasked to lead the country to the elections on 24 April has not been appointed yet.
Montenegro: Talks on two chapters of the accession process, Chapter 14 on transport policy and Chapter 15 on energy, opened on 21 December 2015.
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