On Wednesday 22 May, the European Commission decided to appoint Mr Jean-Luc Demarty as ‘Unclassified Adviser’ in the Secretariat-General of this institution, with responsibility for multilateralism and the reform of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
The current Director-General of the Department of Commerce (DG TRADE) was scheduled to retire at the end of May. He will therefore continue to advise President Jean-Claude Juncker and Secretary-General Martin Selmayr regarding the implementation of the EU-US Joint Statement of July 2018 (see EUROPE 12071/2). A French national with 30 years' experience at the Commission, including as a member of the cabinet of former President Jacques Delors, Mr Demarty played a key role in reinvigorating the ‘Juncker’ Commission’s trade agenda.
The spokesperson for the European institution indicated that a recruitment procedure for the post of Director-General of DG TRADE was under way and should be completed “quickly”.
Moreover, the Commission has decided to appoint Ms Clara de la Torre as Deputy Director-General in its department for Climate Action (DG CLIMA). Having joined the Commission in 1987, this Spanish national has worked in the field of research and innovation policy.
Finally, Ms Sandra Kramer has been appointed Director for EU-African Union relations, West and East Africa, in the department for International Cooperation and Development (DG DEVCO). Having joined the Commission in 1995, this Dutch national spent the first ten years of her career working on external policies, including in the EU delegations in Indonesia and India. She is currently responsible for the Commission's budget and human resources policies in the cabinet of President Jean-Claude Juncker.
The Commission points out that these latest appointments strengthen the percentage of women among directors-general (deputies), which has increased from 11% at the end of 2014 to 39% today. President Juncker has pledged to reach the target of 40% female representation in the Commission’s management by the end of October 2019. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)