Polish hiccup in the diplomatic service quartet…

(BRUXELLES2) While the diplomatic service management quartet seemed to be poorly chosen, a last-minute Polish hesitation could change the cast. Indeed, while the Pole Mikolaj Dowgielewicz, candidate from the start, was tipped to be the Top ten of the European diplomatic service, and occupy the post of Deputy Secretary-General, another equally valid candidate, if not more so, has arisen and could be on the way to imposing itself. This is Maciej Popowski, current chief of staff to the President of Parliament, Jerzy Buzek. Competition is fierce between the two men, each activating their networks in Brussels and Warsaw to support their candidacy.

A career diplomat since 1991, Maciej Popowski took part in Poland's accession negotiations to the European Union, as director of the European department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Deputy to the Polish representation to the EU from 2001, he became the first ambassador to the COPS - the political and security committee from 2004 to 2008. He then moved to the European Commission, as director at DG Development, in charge of horizontal issues (together with public communication and aid effectiveness monitoring), before moving to the service of the President of the European Parliament. A graduate of the University of Wroclaw, Popowski also took courses at the Diplomatic Academy of the German Foreign Ministry in Bonn. And he speaks - in addition to the obligatory English - German, Dutch and French. Which is not negligible.

In other words, a really senior profile than that of Dowgielewicz, and could thus be up to O'Sullivan or Pierre Vimont. Another advantage for Cathy Ashton, Popowski has the confidence of some officials in the European Parliament. This could facilitate on the one hand the vote of the last elements necessary for the creation of the diplomatic service (the financial regulations and the staff regulations), on the other hand the future relations. In a way, it would be the candidate of the European Parliament that the High Representative would endorse. This undoubtedly pleads in favor of this candidacy.

Regarding the procedure, the various applications have been registered. And the evaluation starts now. The appointment of the Top Ten to be confirmed, once the European Parliament has endorsed the financial and personnel regulations of the Diplomatic Service.

(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)