European Parliament:
Members of the Committees, Subcommittees and the Delegations:
Neena GILL (S&D, UK) switched from substitute to member of the Special Committee on Tax Rulings and Other Measures Similar in Nature or Effect (TAXE 2).
Edward CZESAK (ECR, PL) left the Committee on Regional Development (REGI) and joined the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE).
Sławomir KŁOSOWSKI (ECR, PL) joined the Committee on Regional Development (REGI).
Substitutes of the Committees, Subcommittees and the Delegations:
Anneliese DODDS (S&D, UK) switched from member to substitute of the Special Committee on Tax Rulings and Other Measures Similar in Nature or Effect (TAXE 2).
Special Committees:
Emission Measurement in the Automotive Sector (EMIS):
Parliament approved the composition of the Committee and 45 members were appointed. The Committee is expected to last 12 months, and will present an interim report within 6 months of starting its work and a final one in the end of its mandate. The Committee is expected to hold its first meeting in February and name its Chair and its Vice-Chairs.
*Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI): is sending a delegation to the ICAO Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP) meetings during the second week of February, in order to observe the proceedings and report back to the ENVI Committee. The following MEPs will travel to Montreal:
- Seb DANCE (S&D, UK),
- Ivo BELET (EPP, BE),
- Ismail ERTUG (S&D, DE),
- Julie GIRLING (ECR, UK),
- Karl-Heinz FLORENZ (EPP, DE) and
- Bas EICKHOUT (Greens-EFA, NL)
Political groups:
S&D: Gianni PITTELLA (IT), President of the Group will announce the appointment of Afzhal KHAN (UK) as his Special Representative to Muslim Communities in an event that will take place in the Parliament on Tuesday 26 January.
National parties:
Aymeric CHAUPRADE (NI, FR) who had defected from both the National Front and the ENF, launched his own party on 13 January, named “Free France”. Before launching the new movement CHAUPRADE had joined the “Independent Right”.
European Commission:
Cabinets:
Jean-Claude Juncker’s team: Allan LARSSON, former Swedish Director-General, appointed as Special Adviser for the European Pillar of Social Rights.
Tibor Navracsics's team: Alicja Magdalena HERBOWSKA joined as Deputy Head of Cabinet.
Directorates General:
Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI):
Directorate C - Single CMO, economics and analysis of agricultural markets: Silke BOGER became the new Head of Arable crops Unit, replacing Eric WILLEMS.
Directorate J - Audit of Agricultural Expenditure: Margaret BATESON became the new Head of Audit of expenditure on market measures Unit, replacing Ingrid GARCIA-REYES.
International Cooperation and Development (DEVCO):
Marjeta JAGER is the new Deputy Director-General for Directorates C, G, H, Task Force Knowledge, Performance and Results.
Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (MARE):
Directorate C - Atlantic, Outermost Regions and Arctic: Iain SHEPHERD became the new acting Head of Maritime policy Atlantic, outermost regions and Arctic Unit, replacing Matthew KING.
Migration and Home Affairs (HOME):
Directorate A - Strategy and General Affairs: Christine GRAU became the new Head of Inter-institutional Relations and Citizenship Unit, replacing Marc RICHIR.
Directorate C - Migration and Protection: Stephen RYAN became the new acting Head of Asylum Unit, replacing Matthias OEL.
Directorate E- Migration and Security Funds: Matthias OEL became the new Director, replacing Belinda PYKE.
Mobility and Transport (MOVE):
Directorate A - Policy Coordination and Security: Per HAUGAARD is the new acting Director and new Head of Planning, Communication and Inter-institutional Relations Unit.
Secretariat-General (SG):
Mary MCCARTHY appointed Structural Reform Support Service Director on 20 January 2016.
Spokesperson’s Service:
Stephanie RHOMBERG became the new Press Officer – Midday Coordinator, replacing Sara SOUMILLON.
Employment and Social Affairs: Sara SOUMILLON became the new Press Officer, replacing Justyna MILANOWSKA.
Permanent Representations:
Italy: Current Permanent Representative Stefano SANNINO was appointed Head of the diplomatic mission of Italy to Madrid. Carlo CALENDA, current Deputy Minister for Economic Development will replace him but the date has not been confirmed yet.
Poland: Permanent Representative Marek PRAWDA is to be recalled from Brussels by the end of February.
European Agencies:
Europol: Steven Wilson took up his duties as the new Head of Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) on 18 January.
Public affairs:
European Organisation for Packaging and the Environment (EUROPEN): Gwendoline RIOU was appointed EU Public Affairs and Communications Manager, starting on 18 January.
Hering Schuppener: bolstered its Brussels office and Corporate Affairs & Public Strategies practice by appointing Nikolaus TACKE as Managing Director. Mr TACKE who is currently Director Public Affairs and Government Relations Europe for The Coca-Cola Company will take up his new role in April.
Ships and Marine Equipment Association (Sea Europe): Christophe TYTGAT appointed as the new Secretary-General as of 1 March 2016, replacing Douwe CUNNINGHAM.
News in a nutshell:
Member states:
Croatia: the members of the new centre-right cabinet were announced on Thursday 21 January. On Friday Prime Minister-designate, Tihomir ORESKOVIC will seek parliamentary approval for his cabinet, which includes among others Zdravko MARIC, Finance Minister-designate and Economy Minister-designate Tomislav PANENIC who will be tasked with restoring the troubled economy of the country.
Latvia: The resigned Prime Minister Laimdota STRAUJUMA, People’s Party announced that the new cabinet is likely to be formed on 4 February.
Portugal: The Presidential election will take place on Sunday 24 January. In Portugal the President is directly voted by the people and has no executive power but has an influential voice. Anibal CAVACO SILVA, PSD (EPP) is the current President. MEP Marisa MATIAS (GUE/NGL) is among the candidates.
Spain: Ex-MEP and Secretary-General of Podemos (GUE-NGL) Pablo IGLESIAS ,said that his party is ready to back a socialist-led government with Pedro SANCHEZ, PSOE (S&D) Prime Minister and himself as Deputy Prime Minister.
Candidate countries:
Serbia: Prime Minister Aleksandar VUČIĆ, Serbian Progressive Party, called for early parliamentary and local elections. The elections could take place either in April or May 2016.
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia: Following Prime Minister Nikola GRUEVSKI’s resignation, political leaders have failed to agree on a date for the early elections. Emil DIMITRIEV (VMRO-DPMNE) has been approved as interim Prime Minister. The assembly will be dissolved on 24 February 2016.
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