(exclusive) Lady Ashton's boys & girls band. His cabinet (maj2)

29th January 2010September 11, 2023 Nicolas Gros Verheyde

(BRUSSELS2 / updated on Sat. 30 Jan & 11 February) To compose her cabinet, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs of the EU was spoiled for choice. As soon as he was appointed, several hundred CVs landed on his table.

11 people. Not counting the assistants, this cabinet should consist of 11 people. Indeed, after some negotiations - which were not easy - she obtained from the President of the Commission to have a derogation from the ordinary rule (6 advisers) and to be able to recruit 11 advisers. Which is logical, a consequence of her dual function (Vice-President of the Commission and High Representative). Even if the High Representative can have resources within the European administration, all in all, this remains relatively few compared to the scope of the functions (Solana had about fifteen people in her cabinet, including, it is true, 2 assistants) . But the President of the Commission, José-Manuel Barroso, has only 12...

A cabinet of quadras. The cabinet is a skilful mix between former members of its trade cabinet, former members of the Solana cabinet or of the Council and diplomacy of the Member States, as well as of the European Commission. We can already notice that many of them have a diversified background combining a period in a European institution (Council, Commission, Parliament), in the diplomacy of a Member State (United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain), the presence on the ground (Balkans, China, UN), even in the private sector. We can also notice that many of them have to their credit, to have been either in London, or to have already worked with a Briton. And that the average age is rather below forty.

L'office architecture is not yet defined. It could be divided between senior advisors and junior advisors. Each of its members should have on file a geographical allocation and a sectoral allocation; the "ordinary" files of the Commission being shared between all the members.

All the names are not yet known or formalized. Here are the main ones according to the information that remains to be confirmed (it should be done this week).

morrison-copy-1 James morrison (UK) : chief of staff. British diplomat. He started his career in the nationality and immigration department of the Home Office in London but quickly moved, in 1991, to the Foreign Office (FCO) where he worked on humanitarian issues and war crimes. He then spent the next five years at the UK Representation to the EU dealing with trade or international aid issues until 1998 (date of UK EU Presidency). In 1999, he returned to the FCO as spokesman and then became private secretary to two ministers responsible for Europe (in Tony Blair's government). After having been head of the CFSP department (common foreign and security policy), he returned to Brussels where he was responsible for the "presidency" team during the British presidency of the EU in 2005, also in charge of trade issues. and relations with Asia. After a stint at university level at the Ashridge Business School, he returned to the European Commission in 2008 as Catherine Ashton's cabinet (Commerce).

Lutz Gullner (DU): spokesman. 39 years old. He had held the same position at Ashton (Trade) since March 2009. Background: he worked at the French Ministry of the Environment, in charge of relations with the countries of sub-Saharan Africa. He began his career in Brussels as a consultant in public affairs, before joining the Commission, first at DG Relex where he dealt with relations with the neighboring countries of the EU to the east (2003-2005), then to DG Trade, where he is responsible for economic relations with Russia. Education: Born in 1971, graduated in political science and international relations from the University of Berlin and Sciences-Po Paris. His wife is Dutch and they have two children.

Edward Bannerman (UK): Advisor. Member of the Ashton cabinet (Trade) in charge of transatlantic policy, the WTO, the single market, energy, sovereign wealth funds and intellectual property rights. NB: he could continue to follow "sensitive" files for the British who come to college.

Pelayo Castro-Zuzuarregui (SP): to advise. After having been Administrator in the "International Trade" Committee of the European Parliament, he was since 2007 "personal assistant" of the Spanish Prime Minister, Jose-Luis Zapatero. Which could be useful to ensure the link with the Spanish presidency. Other route: assistant to the chief correspondent of El Pais in the USA. "Junior Officer" at the Economic Commercial Office of the Spanish Embassy in Brussels. Curriculum : Masters degree in European Studies from CCollege of Europe in Bruges (Leonardo da Vinci promotion), Master of Science in Foreign Service and Honors Certificate in International Business Diplomacy from Georgetown University (Washington DC), Degree in Political Science from the Autonomous University of Barcelona. His wife is Dutch and they have a daughter.

Steven Everts (NL): adviser "energy - transatlantic relations" (USA, Canada). 39 years old. He was until the personal representative of Javier Solana (High Representative) on Energy and Foreign Policy. Background: special adviser in charge of transatlantic relations (Us Canada), the OSCE, the Council of Europe of the G8 and climate change (2005-2008). Researcher at the Center for European Reform in London (1999-2004) and teacher at the Brasenose college of the University of Oxford, in charge of international relations (1996-1998). Education: Born in 1970, graduated from a British university, doctorate in international law, with a promising thesis title: "Adaptation in Foreign Policy. British and French reactions to German unification". He also studied at the University of Leiden (Netherlands) in political science.

Alice Guitton (ENG): adviser "Crisis management - Somalia Piracy". 32 years old. A French diplomat, she was until now head of the governance mission at the Quai d'Orsay since May 2009. Background: Advisor to Bernard Kouchner's cabinet in charge of multilateral and strategic affairs (UN, piracy, etc.) 2007 to 2009 (particularly during the French presidency of the EU). First Secretary at the French Embassy in London (2005-2007). Editor in the political affairs division of the Quai d'Orsay (2002-2005) after having been in the economic affairs division, in charge of questions concerning international organizations and the UN (2000-2002). Curriculum: studies in philosophy at the University Sorbonne Paris IV and economics (1994-1997), political science Paris (1997). A graduate of the ENA (Averroès promotion 1998-2000), she did her compulsory internships at the Creuse prefecture and at Pernod Ricard. She was also a trainee at the European Court of Auditors (1996) and at the Delegation of the European Commission to the OECD and UNESCO (1995).

Carl Hallegard (SWE): adviser "Afghanistan - Pakistan". Until now in Javier Solana's cabinet as "Balkans" adviser to the High Representative. Background: after an internship in the office of the Swedish Commissioner, Anita Gradin, he joined the Commission at the Humanitarian Office (ECHO (1996), then moved to the Council Secretariat (2000) in the Policy and Early Warning (UPPAR) which later became the Political Unit Curriculum: Stockholm Business School, university in political science and philosophy, College of Europe in Bruges (1995).

Michael Jennings (UK): private secretary. 34 years old. He was until now "press officer" for Commissioner Ashton (Trade) after having exercised the same function with Peter Mandelson (since 2007). Career: head of the press service of the EC delegation in China and Mongolia (2005-2007). Head of press and public relations at Bayer China (2002-2005). Born in September 1976. Education: Masters of Letters and Masters in Economics and Political Science (1995-1999) at Trinity College Dublin (1995-1999 and 1999-2001), Baccalaureate (Abitur) in German at the Freiherr-vom-Stein Grammar School in Leverkusen (1995).

Anna Kaisa Itkonen (END) : press officer. She held the same position at Olli Rehn (Commissioner for Enlargement) and was previously spokesperson for the Commission's delegation to Finland. Curriculum: Originally from South Karelia, she spent her childhood à Lappeenranta and Joutseno. Graduated from the High School of Joensuu, she then left to study languages and European law at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland.

Maja Kocijancic (SLO): HR spokesperson. Until now, she was the spokesperson for the Slovenian representation in Brussels and notably performed this function during the Slovenian presidency of the EU in 2008. She was previously the EU and NATO correspondent journalist for the Slovenian press agency (STA).

Renate Nikolay (DU): adviser "relations with the Parliament". She held the same position in the firm Ashton (Trade) and was also in the firm of Peter Mandelson (Trade) in charge of food safety issues. She started her career at the German Foreign Ministry.

Helene-Holm Pedersen (DK): deputy chief of staff, adviser "Balkans". Former member of the Rehn (Enlargement) cabinet responsible for Bosnia, Kosovo, development and humanitarian aid, consumers and relations with the Council. Background: After working with the High Representative of the International Community (OHR) in Bosnia and Brussels, at the OECD and with the EU Special Representative in Skopje, she joined the Council Secretariat Task Force in 2002 , led by EU Special Representative Lord Ashdown. Then moved in 2005 to Rehn's office.