Brussels, 03/06/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 3 June, the European Commission appointed Portuguese João Vale de Almeida, who is currently the head of the private office of Commission President José Manuel Barroso, as Director-General of the Directorate-General for External Relations (DG RELEX). He will take over from Spaniard Eneko Landaburu, who is to become the head of the European Commission delegation in Rabat, Morocco, on 1 October. The previous head of the delegation to Morocco was Frenchman Bruno Thomas, a former Commission spokesman, under Jacques Delors. In his new role as Director General for External Relations, Vale de Almeida will become the EU chief negotiator on a new partnership agreement with Russia.
52-year-old Vale de Almeida will assume responsibility for overall management of DG RELEX, the Commission says in a press release. He will lead the DG in its work of formulating an effective external relations policy for the European Union, maintaining relations with international organisations, and managing the European Neighbourhood Policy, including through its network of more than 120 delegations abroad.
Since November 2004, Vale de Almeida has been the head of Barroso's private office. He is also Barroso's permanent personal representative (or “Sherpa”) to the G8 and G20.
Vale de Almeida started working at the European Commission in 1982 at the representation in Lisbon. He has a degree in history from the University of Lisbon, and trained as a journalist in France, the USA and Japan. He has also attended management schools in the UK and France. (L.C./H.B./transl.rt)