18 September 2014

European Voice: Commissioners’ private offices start to take shape

The next intake of European commissioners has begun putting together the teams of officials who will work most closely with them – the private offices, or cabinets. Until the commissioners themselves have been confirmed in office by a vote of the European Parliament, the cabinets do not have official status, but already the names of the heads of the private offices are emerging.

Jean-Claude Juncker, the incoming president of the Commission had already named Martin Selmayr as the head of his private office. At the weekend, it emerged that Stefano Manservisi is to head the private office of Federica Mogherini, the EU’s foreign policy chief, who will be Italy’s member of the college of European commissioners.

The Dutch member of the college, Frans Timmermans, who is to be the first vice-president for better regulation, inter-institutional relations and the rule of law, has selected Ben Smulders to head his cabinet. Smulders is currently a principal legal adviser in the Commission’s legal service, a post he has held since March 2008. He previously headed the private office of Neelie Kroes in her first term in the Commission, when she was European commissioner for competition. In his time in the Commission he has also worked for two other Dutch commissioners: Frits Bolkestein, who was responsible for the internal market and services, and Hans van den Broek, who was in charge of enlargement and external relations.

Update (September 23)

All but three of the next generation of European commissioners have disclosed who will be running their private offices. Jyrki Katainen, who has been designated vice-president for jobs, growth, investment and competitiveness, has recruited Juho Romakkaniemi, who is currently head of the private office of Finland’s prime minister Alexander Stubb, to lead his team. Katainen was the prime minister until earlier this year, and Romakkaniemi headed his office then, so effectively the pair are being re-united.

Since July, Katainen has been Finland’s European commissioner, having taken over from Olli Rehn, who joined the European Parliament. Katainen’s current head of office, Taneli Lahti, is going to work for Valdis Dombrovskis, who is in line to be the vice-president for the euro and social dialogue.

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List of Chefs de Cabinet (Subscription required.)

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