The organization chart of the diplomatic service becomes … final
(BRUSSELS2) A new diplomatic service organization chart is available (*). On this document, little change beforehand. But all the same an evolution: the word "provisional" has been removed. This organization chart is therefore definitive, or almost (**) (until the next one!). And the changes are in the details... Tour of the (new) owner.
This organization chart has been supplemented by the various appointments made in the meantime: those of the working group presidents (Bart Versmessen for the PMG, MM Leinonen for the Civcom, etc.), that of N. Westcott for the Africa department...
The crisis management structure is completed
The Directorate for Foreign Policy Instruments, which is a Commission department, appears on the organization chart as such. She reports directly to Catherine Ashton, as HR/VP. Its director is the Luxembourger Tung Lai Margue. She is responsible for managing the budget and interinstitutional relations (Miller), the Instrument for Stability (Genoveva Ruiz-Calavera), CFSP operations (Juha Auvinen), public diplomacy and electoral observation missions (Oliver Nette ad interim), it is placed directly under the authority of HR and the crisis management structures. This could satisfy the European Parliament, of which it was one of the imperative demands, unless it considers this presence on the organization chart a little artificial.
In practice, it should be Maciej Popowski who will be responsible for it and will be in charge of monitoring the files of the PeSDC (it is moreover he who represented the diplomatic service at the last informal council of defense ministers).
Another development: the crisis management structures are also directly linked to the "strategic communication" unit, placed under Cathy Ashton.
Strategic communication is reduced
The strategic communication unit is no longer mentioned as vacant. But no name is specified. We know that the candidate F. Michel who had important claims in terms of salary were not satisfied. And the idea of having a cell rather than a person could make its way: the HR will rely on the service of the spokesperson of the European Commission (which has not shown a resounding success so far.. .) and on various press or communication officers (delegations, PeSDC, etc.).
Reorganization of department management
If at the level of the departments, nothing is changed. At the level of the directions, there are some movements:
- The Deputy Director General "Administration and Finance" becomes department director in his own right. The position is still vacant but will report directly to CEO David O'Sullivan. The "Security" department is expanded since its director is given responsibility for three units: the "field security" unit (Hasson), the "Headquarters" unit which is created, and the "communications security" unit (formerly direction of the "digit") (Keymolen). These units previously depended on 'corporate support'.
- The Europe department is experiencing more changes, on the one hand, it is renamed "Europe and Central Asia" (instead of (Russia, Eastern Partnership and Balkans, which was a bit long and not very suitable). A new direction is created bringing together Western Europe, the Balkans and Turkey" (vacant position) alongside the Russia, Eastern Partnership and Central Asia directorate which remains entrusted to G. Wiegand.
- Same evolution in the "Americas" department, which sees its single direction split into a "Latin America" direction inherited by Gustavo Martin-Prada (the current director) and a "North America and Caribbean" direction entrusted to the Spaniard T. Dupla Del Moral (defector from the North Africa directorate).
- In the "Middle East" department, it's the opposite way, the two directions Middle East / Gulf and North Africa are merged into one. This prefigures the great Mediterranean approach desired by the countries of southern Europe. But the position is still vacant.
In the "Africa" department, few changes apart from a new appointment for the "regional cooperation" unit renamed "pan-African affairs".
(*) Download the organization chart
(**) (Update Tue 22 p.m.) Changes could notably occur at the level of the "crisis response" Department, which is without troops for the moment.
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