Movers and Shakers

https://www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/articles/news/movers-and-shakers-15-june-2015

Keep track of movements in the European institutions and public affairs with our movers and shakers column.

European Parliament:

Members of Committees, Subcommittees and Delegations:

Pablo Zalba Bidegain (EPP, Spain) switched from substitute to member of the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly (D-LAT).

Brian Crowley (ECR, Ireland) joined the Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI).

Diane James (EFDD, UK) joined the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON).

Patrick O'Flynn (EFDD, UK) switched from member to substitute of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON).

Substitutes of Committees, Subcommittees and Delegations:

Tom Vandenkendelaere (EPP, Belgium) switched from member to substitute of the Delegation to the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly (D-LAT).

Bolesław G. Piecha (ECR, Poland) joined the Delegation to the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly (D-ACP).

Political parties:

Ex MEP Zita Gurmai (Hungary) re-elected as President of the European Socialists women's' organisation (PES Women).

European Commission:

Cabinets:

Pierre Moscovici's team: Lucie Mattera joined as a member, replacing Malgorzata Iskra.

Directorates-General:

Translation (DGT) - Directorate S: Klaudia Zagorowicz is the new Customer Relations adviser.

Council of the European Union:

General Secretariat:

Christine Roger appointed as Director-General for Justice and Home Affairs, replacing Rafael Fernandez. She will take up her new position as of 1 July.

European Central Bank:

Directorates-General:

International and European Relations: Lucas Ter Braak became the new Head of EU Institutions and Fora Division Unit, replacingJohannes Lindner.

Secretariat:

Stuart ORR became the new Head of Information Management Services Division Unit, replacing Emily Witt.

Public Affairs:

American Chamber of Commerce to the European Union (AmCham EU): Melanie Faithfull Kent, Chief Operating Officer of Hill+Knowlton Strategies, appointed as the Chair of the Communications and Marketing Group and the newest member of the AmCham EU Board.

Solidar: Francisca Sauquillo has been elected as President and MEP Knut Fleckenstein (S&D, Germany) as Vice-President.

International Federation of Industrial Energy Consumers (IFIEC Europe): Annette Loske elected as the new President, succeedingFernand Felzinger who will continue as Vice-President to chair IFIEC Europe's Management Committee. Alessandro Profili elected as Deputy President, succeeding Peter Claes.

News in a nutshell:

Member states:

Poland: The Minister for Health Bartosz Arłukowicz, the Minister for Treasury Włodzimierz Karpiński and the Minister for SportsAndrzej Biernat, Civil Platform party (EPP) resigned amid leaked tapes. The parliamentary Speaker, Radek Sikorski and three Deputy Ministers resigned as well.

Denmark: Danish people head to the polls on Thursday 18 June, after Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt, Social Democrats (S&D) called a snap election in May.

Romania: The Romanian MPs voted against lifting the immunity of the Prime Minister Victor Ponta, Social Democratic Party (S&D), who is facing corruption allegations. President Klaus Iohannis urged him to resign, but Ponta refused and passed a vote of confidence on Friday 12 June. On Tuesday 11 June the Minister for Transport Ioan Rus, Social Democratic Party (S&D) resigned.

United Kingdom: British MPs backed the plans for the EU referendum during the first debate and voted by 544 to 53 in favour of the bill, which now moves to the next stage of its process.

Applicant states:

Turkey: The ruling Justice and Development party (AKP) (AECR) lost its parliamentary majority and has now 45 days to form a coalition government. The pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party (HDP) crossed the 10 per cent threshold and secured seats in the parliament for first time. If no coalition deal is reached, a fragile minority government and early elections seem likely to follow. Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu resigned on Tuesday 9 June, but will remain in his post until a new government is formed.

Correction:

Finland: The European affiliation of the Centre Party is ALDE Group and not ECR.