Brussels, 25/05/2005 (Agence Europe) - Ilkka Laitinen from Finland will head the European Agency managing the EU's external borders. He was appointed on 25 May by the steering committee of the agency at its first meeting in Warsaw. Diplomatic sources indicated that Gil Arias Fernandez from Spain, who was also a candidate for this post, was appointed deputy director. Among the three candidates on the European Commission short list, only the Italian Rodolfo Ronconi did not make the grade. On the same day as its steering committee meeting the European Commission adopted and sent out its shortlist, consisting of these three candidates. The European Border Agency has officially been up and running since 1 May but has not yet really been operational as until now there has been no director or premises. It will be in charge of coordinating common Member State projects and making analyses.