Tuesday

19th Mar 2024

Greek Commissioner resigns

Greek commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou (in charge of employment and social affairs) today officially handed her letter of resignation to Commission President Romano Prodi.

Ms Diamantopoulou took a period of unpaid leave to stand in the Greek elections, which took place last Sunday (7 March). Her party, the Socialists, lost the election, but she will remain involved in Greek politics as a member of the parliament for the opposition.

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Get the EU news that really matters

Instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

  • More Greek than European now (Photo: Irish EU Presidency)

In theory, she could have stayed on until the end of the mandate in October, but has chosen to resign officially.

Commission spokesman Reijo Kemppinen told journalists today that the letter "thanks the President and her colleagues for the years she has had the chance to work with them for the benefit of Europe here".

She will be replaced as commissioner by 62 year old lawyer and economist Stavros Dimas.

Mr Dimas has served in Greek governments notably as trade, industry and agriculture minister. He has also worked for a Wall Street law firm and at the World Bank.

"He is a very experienced politician ... he also has extensive knowledge of European affairs", said Mr Kemppinen.

His appointment needs to be approved by the European Council, which could happen as early as tomorrow (11 March). He will be free to take up his post soon afterwards.

EU development commissioner to take unpaid leave

EU humanitarian aid and development commissioner Louis Michel will take a one-month unpaid leave of absence from the European Commission while seeking to re-enter politics in his native country Belgium.

Finnish PM: Russia preparing for 'long conflict with West'

Finland, which shares a border with Russia, has cautioned about the danger of a Russian attack in coming years. Russia is not "invincible" but "self-satisfaction is no longer an option," Finnish prime minister Petteri Orpo said.

EU Commission proposes opening Bosnia accession talks

Eight years on, the EU Commission is to recommend on Tuesday that member states open accession talks with Bosnia and Herzegovina after the country took "impressive steps" to meet the bloc's standards, Ursula von der Leyen said.

Opinion

How the EU can raise its game in the Middle East

Could the EU repair its reputation and credibility by taking action on Gaza? EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell, Spain, Belgium and Ireland, have worked hard to repair the damage, but have faced political headwinds due to internal divisions.

Latest News

  1. Borrell: 'Israel provoking famine', urges more aid access
  2. Europol: Israel-Gaza galvanising Jihadist recruitment in Europe
  3. EU to agree Israeli-settler blacklist, Borrell says
  4. EU ministers keen to use Russian profits for Ukraine ammo
  5. Call to change EIB defence spending rules hits scepticism
  6. Potential legal avenues to prosecute Navalny's killers
  7. EU summit, Gaza, Ukraine, reforms in focus this WEEK
  8. The present and future dystopia of political micro-targeting ads

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Nordic Council of MinistersJoin the Nordic Food Systems Takeover at COP28
  2. Nordic Council of MinistersHow women and men are affected differently by climate policy
  3. Nordic Council of MinistersArtist Jessie Kleemann at Nordic pavilion during UN climate summit COP28
  4. Nordic Council of MinistersCOP28: Gathering Nordic and global experts to put food and health on the agenda
  5. Friedrich Naumann FoundationPoems of Liberty – Call for Submission “Human Rights in Inhume War”: 250€ honorary fee for selected poems
  6. World BankWorld Bank report: How to create a future where the rewards of technology benefit all levels of society?

Join EUobserver

EU news that matters

Join us