17/06/2016 (Agence Europe) - Helga Schmid appointed EEAS Secretary General to take over from Alain Le Roy, following his resignation. On Wednesday 15 June, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini announced the appointment of Helga Schmid from Germany to the post of Secretary General for the European External Action Service. She will take over from French national, Alain Leroy, on 1 September. Schmid is 55 years old and, since 2011, has been working as the deputy political director of the EEAS. Mogherini explained the reasons for her choice in a letter to European foreign ministers, of a copy which has been obtained by EUROPE, saying that “it is essential to guarantee a smooth and swift transition at the head of the Service”. In her letter Mogherini says that Leroy “has expressed his wish to leave his post by August 31st, for personal reasons”. According to one diplomatic source, however, quoted by Reuters, the resignation was due to a divergence of views. Leroy is said to have been critical of Mogherini for confining him to a chiefly administrative role. (CG)