Brussels, 18/07/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 18 July, the Commission made a number of appointments to important posts.
Italian Paola Testori-Coggi, 54, was appointed deputy director general of DG Health and Consumer Protection (DG SANCO). She will be responsible for the Commission's policy on food safety, in particular the safety of the food and feed chain, animal health, animal welfare and plant health. Ms Testori-Coggi is currently director in charge of the safety of the food chain (SANCO.E), with responsibility for food safety legislation.
Finn Antti Peltomäki has become deputy director general of the Directorate-General for the Information Society and Media (DG INFSO). He will be responsible for promoting international cooperation in information and communication technology (ICT) research and for representing the Commission in negotiations on ICT development. Mr Peltomäki, 51, is currently head of the Commission's representation in Helsinki.
Frenchman Hugues Mingarelli was appointed deputy director general of the Directorate-General for External Relations (DG RELEX). He will be responsible for European neighbourhood policy and for relations with Eastern Europe, Southern Caucasus and Central Asia, the Middle East and southern Mediterranean. Mr Mingarelli, 52, is currently acting deputy director general for External Relations, as well as director with responsibility for relations with Eastern Europe, Southern Caucasus and Central Asia. Portuguese João Aguiar Machado was appointed deputy director general of the Directorate-General for External Relations (DG RELEX), with responsibility for relations with Asia and Latin America. 48-year old Mr Aguiar Machado is currently a director in charge of services and investment, and bilateral trade relations, at the Commission's Directorate-General for Trade.
Katarína Mathernová was appointed deputy director general of the Directorate-General for Regional Policy (DG REGIO). She will be responsible for the three policy directorates, and for coordinating relations with the Commission's other Directorates-General and with authorities in the member states and regions. Ms Mathernová, from Slovakia, is currently a director in charge of the largest geographic directorate (REGIO.F), overseeing implementation of the European Regional Development Fund and the Cohesion Fund, with responsibility for an annual budget of more than €13 billion.
Finally, 42-year old Briton Nicholas David Bearfield became head of the European Communities Personnel Selection Office (EPSO), an office which is responsible for organising open competitions to select staff for the various institutions and advisory bodies of the European Union. He will take up his new duties on 1 September 2007. (lc)