European Commission
Commissioners’ key staff
Monday 11 January 2010
Commissioners rely heavily on their political advisors, especially their head and deputy head of cabinet, and spokespeople during their time in Brussels. As they prepare for their hearings, the commissioners-designate have already begun to choose and pencil in officials for these key positions. The appointments will only be made after the European Parliament has formally approved the new Commission team. Europolitics presents below details of the future appointments its journalists have established as of 8 January. (Coordinated by Rory Watson)BARONESS ASHTON(UK)
(High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission)
Head of Cabinet: James Morrison (British). Career British Foreign Office official with special expertise in EU, trade and Asia. Served twice in UK’s Permanent Representation to the EU. Has been strategy tutor to various public and private clients. Previously head of Ashton’s cabinet when trade commissioner.
Deputy Head: To be confirmed (TBC).
Spokesman: Lutz Güllner (German). Formerly Ashton’s trade spokesman. Has Commission background in external relations.
JOAQUIN ALMUNIA (Spain)
(Competition, Vice-President of the Commission)
Head of Cabinet: Carlos Martinez-Mongay (Spanish). Previously head of unit in DG Ecfin responsible for economies of Bulgaria, Greece, Spain, Cyprus and Portugal.
Deputy Head: Guillaume Loriot (French), currently head of unit, anti-trust and merger case support at DG COMP.
Spokeswoman:Amelia Torres (Portuguese). Former journalist (
Reuters, Diario de Noticias). Previously competition spokeswoman for five years. Currently spokeswoman for economic and monetary affairs.
LÁSZLÓ ANDOR(Hungary)
(Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion)
Head of Cabinet: Anabela Gago (Portuguese), currently deputy head of cabinet to Taxation Commissioner László Kovács. Former translator, speaks five languages fluently. Has worked in Environment and Justice and Home Affairs DGs.
Deputy Head: TBC
Spokeswoman:Cristina Arigho (Irish). Former news producer. Joined Commission in 2003 as speechwriter on employment and social affairs. Currently budget spokeswoman.
MICHEL BARNIER (France)
(Internal Market and Services)
Head of Cabinet: Olivier Guersent (French). Previously head of DG Competition’s Cartels Directorate and worked in cabinets of former Competition Commissioners Nelly Kroes and Karel Van Miert.
Deputy Head: Kerstin Jorna (German). Previously head of cabinet for former Justice Commissioner Jacques Barrot, and worked for Barnier when he was regional affairs commissioner.
Spokeswoman: Chantal Hughes (dual British/French nationality). Detached British civil servant, spent a year at Ecole Normale d’Administration. Currently spokeswoman for employment and social affairs.
DACIAN CIOLOS(Romania)
(Agriculture and Rural Development)
Head of Cabinet: Georg Häusler (Austrian). Currently head of unit for budget and audit in DG Agriculture.
Deputy Head: Ionel-SoriMoisa (Romanian). Currently in Commission’s DG Transport.
Spokesman:TBC
JOHN DALLI (Malta)
(Health and Consumer Policy)
Head of Cabinet: Joanna Darmanin (Maltese). Currently deputy head of cabinet for outgoing Maltese Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg. Has worked in private offices of both the Maltese president and foreign minister and Malta’s Permanent Representation to the EU.
Deputy Head: TBC
Spokesman: Frédéric Vincent (French). Currently member of Education Commissioner Maros Sefcovic’s cabinet. Formerly education spokesman.
MARIA DAMANAKI(Greece)
(Maritime Affairs and Fisheries)
Head of Cabinet: Georgios Markopouliotis (Greek). Currently oversees Commission representations in member states. Previously head of Commission’s Athens office. Was cabinet member with former British Regional Affairs Commissioner Bruce Millan.
Deputy Head: TBC
Spokesman:Oliver Drewes (German). Currently spokesman for internal market and services. Previously in cabinet of former Agriculture Commissioner Franz Fischler.
KAREL DE GUCHT(Belgium)
(Trade)
Head of Cabinet: Marc Vanheukelen (Belgian) remains in present post. Has worked in Belgian Foreign Ministry and been Commission head of unit for relations with US and Canada.
Deputy Head: TBC
Spokesman:John Clancy (British). Former journalist (
AP, Euronews). Currently overseas development spokesman.
STEFAN FÜLE(Czech Republic)
(Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy)
Head of Cabinet:Simon Mordue (British). Previously in cabinet of Enterprise and Industry Commissioner Günter Verheugen. Has also worked in Commission’s Delegation in Turkey.
Deputy Head: TBC
Spokeswoman:Angela Filote (Romanian). Has worked in Commission Representation in Bucharest and Delegation in Cairo.
JOHANNES HAHN(Austria)
(Regional Policy)
Head of Cabinet: Hubert Gambs (Austrian). Has been in the cabinets of Austria’s two previous Commissioners, Franz Fischler and Benita Ferrero-Waldner.
Deputy Head: Nicola de Michelis (Italian) from DG REGIO.
Spokesman:Ton Van Lierop (Dutch). Former journalist, (Dutch news agency ANP). Currently enterprise and industry spokesman.
CONNIE HEDEGAARD(Denmark)
(Climate Action)
Head of Cabinet: Peter Vis (British). Former deputy head of cabinet for Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs.
Deputy Head: TBC
Spokesman:TBC
MÁIRE GEOGHEGAN-QUINN (Ireland)
(Research and Innovation)
Head of Cabinet: John Bell (Irish). Currently head of cabinet for Consumer Protection Commissioner Meglena Kuneva. Previously in cabinet of former Health Commissioner David Byrne.
Deputy Head:TBC
Spokesman: Mark English (British). Currently member of Spokesperson’s Service. Previously in DG Internal Market’s communication unit.
RUMIANA JELEVA(Bulgaria)
(International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response)
Head of Cabinet: Jochen Richter (German). Currently deputy head of cabinet for Multilingualism Commissioner Leonard Orban.
Deputy Head: Dimitar Kyumyurdzhiev (Bulgarian). A lawyer and currently Jeleva’s head of cabinet in the Foreign Ministry.
Spokesman:Ferran Tarradellas Espuny (Spanish). Currently energy spokesman.
SIIM KALLAS (Estonia)
(Transport, Vice-President of the Commission)
Head of Cabinet: Henrik Hololei (Estonian). Appointed Commission deputy director-general for enlargement in June 2009, but will postpone taking up the post. Was heavily involved in Estonia’s accession preparations for EU membership.
Deputy Head: Kristian Schmidt (Danish). Remains as deputy head of cabinet for Kallas.
Spokeswoman:Helen Kearns (Irish). Previously worked for former European Parliament President Pat Cox. Currently spokeswoman for consumer affairs.
NEELIE KROES (Netherlands)
(Digital Agenda, Vice-President of the Commission)
Head of Cabinet: Anthony Whelan (Irish). Remains in current position with Kroes. A lawyer, he has worked in the Commission’s Legal Service and represented it against Microsoft before the Court of First Instance.
Deputy Head: Lorena Boix Alonso (Spanish). Remains in same position.
Spokesman:Jonathan Todd (British). Former journalist (
Europolitics and
Sunday Times). Previously spokesman for internal market. Now competition spokesman.
JANUSZ LEWANDOWSKI(Poland)
(Budget and Financial Programming)
Head of Cabinet: Marc Lemaitre (Luxembourgish). Currently head of cabinet for Regional Policy Commissioner Pawel Samecki.
Deputy Head: TBC
Spokesman:TBC
CECILIA MALMSTRÖM (Sweden)
(Home Affairs)
Head of Cabinet: Maria Asenius (Swedish). State secretary to Malmström when Europe minister. Advisor to former European Parliament President Pat Cox and deputy head of cabinet to Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn.
Deputy Head: Laurent Muschel (French). Currently deputy head of cabinet to outgoing Justice, Freedom and Security Commissioner Jaques Barrot.
Spokesman:Michele Cercone (Italian). Former journalist (
ANSA). Currently justice, freedom and security spokesman.
GÜNTHER
OETTINGER (Germany)
(Energy)
Head of Cabinet: Michael Köhler (German). Outgoing Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg’s head of cabinet. Has strong academic background, teaching at College of Europe. Worked in Commission (foreign, maritime policy) since 1994.
Deputy Head: TBC
Spokesman:TBC
ANDRIS PIEBALGS (Latvia)
(Development)
Head of Cabinet: Christopher Jones (British). Before taking charge of renewable energy in DG Tren, he was Piebalgs’ deputy head of cabinet.
Deputy Head: TBC
Spokeswoman:Catherine Ray (French). Currently science and research spokeswoman. Previously press officer for French delegation in European Parliament, press officer for former Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy, worked for UNDP in New York.
JANEZ POTOCNIK (Slovenia)
(Environment)
Head of Cabinet: Kurt Vandenberghe (Belgian). Currently Potocnik’s head of cabinet for research. In Commission since 1999. Has worked in DG Transport.
Deputy Head:TBC
Spokesman:Joseph Hennon (Irish). Commission official for some 20 years. Has worked in DG Competition. Currently spokesperson for institutional relations and communication strategy.
VIVIANE REDING (Luxembourg)
(Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship, Vice-President of the Commission)
Head of Cabinet: Martin Selmayr (German). The 40-year-old lawyer is currently Reding’s information society spokesman. Has worked at the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund. Headed international media company Bertelsmann’s Brussels office.
Deputy Head: Viviane Hoffmann (Luxembourgish). Remains in post already occupied for ten years.
Spokesman:TBC
OLLI REHN (Finland)
(Economic and Monetary Affairs)
Head of Cabinet: Timo Pesonen (Finnish). Previously member of Commission’s Spokesperson’s Service, head of Commission’s Representation in Finland. Currently Rehn’s head of cabinet.
Deputy Head: Stéphanie Riso (French). Currently member of Economic Affairs Commissioner Joaquín Almunia’s cabinet, responsible for Eurogroup and EMU governance.
Spokesman: Amadeu Altafaj Tardio (Spanish). Former journalist (
El Mundo, Spanish news agency
EFE). Currently member of Spokesperson’s Service.
MAROS SEFCOVIC (Slovakia)
(Vice-President of the Commission for Inter-Institutional Relations and Administration)
Head of Cabinet: Juraj Nociar (Slovak). Former deputy permanent representative.
Deputy Head: Bernd Biervert (German). Currently member of Sefcovic’s cabinet.
Spokesman:Michel Mann (British). Former journalist (
Agra Europe, European Voice, Financial Times). Previously Commission spokesman on administration. Currently agriculture spokesman.
ALGIRDAS SEMETA (Lithuania)
(Taxation and Customs Union, Audit and Anti-Fraud)
Head of Cabinet: Stephen Quest (British). Formerly assistant to current Trade Director-General David O’Sullivan. Currently Semeta’s head of cabinet.
Deputy Head: TBC
Spokeswoman: Emer Traynor (Irish). Currently press officer for taxation, customs union and consumer protection.
ANTONIO TAJANI(Italy)
(Industry and Entrepreneurship, Vice-President of the Commission)
Head of Cabinet: Antonio Preto (Italian). Began Brussels career as political advisor to EPP group in European Parliament. Later member of former Parliament President Hans-Gert Pöttering’s cabinet. Currently Tajani’s head of cabinet.
Deputy Head: Diego Canga Fano (Spanish). Lawyer in Spain before becoming an EU official in 1991.
Spokesman: Fabio Pirotta (Maltese). Former Maltese information officer, worked in Commission’s DG Environment Civil Protection Unit. Currently transport spokesman.
ANDROULLA VASSILIOU (Cyprus)
(Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth)
Head of Cabinet: Philippe Brunet (French). Continues in same role he currently occupies for Vassiliou. Worked in DG Enterprise and Industry on pharmaceuticals before becoming deputy head of cabinet to Vassiliou’s predecessor, Markos Kyprianou.
Deputy Head: Despina Spanou (Cypriot). Remains as deputy head of cabinet.
Spokesman: Dennis Abbott (British). Former journalist (
The Sunand
European Voice). Currently regional policy spokesman.
Fabrizio Spada/Commission - 
