DG Education & Culture ‒ EAC Martine Reicherts (Luxembourg) DG Environment ‒ ENV Daniel Calleja Crespo (Spain)

On the 1st of September, a major reshuffle of Directors-General in the European Commission took place, following an announcement in June. As well as a change in Secretary-General, the head of the European Commission civil service, several Directors-General have moved around or been promoted.

The Commission is simultaneously attempting to increase the number of women in high-level positions and reduce its staff numbers by 5%. However the important DG for Justice and Consumers still remains without a chief.

Directors-General are the chief civil servants within the Commission, each heading a policy department. As such they work closely with the relevant Commissioner, whom they often outlast, and have a major impact on EU policy-making.

The reshuffle was initiated by Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, and completes the institutional transition started last year with a new college of Commissioners.

Please see DeHavilland EU's PeoplePoint site for more information on Commission officials.

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DG Education & Culture – EAC

Martine Reicherts (Luxembourg) Commissioner Tibor Navracsics

Briefly a European Commissioner, after compatriot Viviane Reding joined the European Parliament, Ms Reicherts moves from the Commission's Publications Office to head up the DG for Education and Culture.

DG Environment – ENV

Daniel Calleja Crespo (Spain) Commissioner Karmenu Vella

From one high-profile DG to another, Spaniard Daniel Calleja Crespo, replaces Karl Falkenberg at DG Environment. His predecessor has been appointed "Senior Adviser for Sustainable Development" at the new European Political Strategy Centre (EPSC).

DG Health & Food Safety – SANTE

Xavier Prats Monné (Spain) Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis

The SANTE position has been unfilled since former DG Paola Testori Coggi stepped down over a breach of tender procedure. Mr Prats Monné moves from DG EAC to take over.

DG Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship & SMEs – GROW

Lowri Evans (UK) Commissioner Elzbieta Bienkowska

One of several women to receive a promotion, the UK's Lowri Evans is a qualified accountant. She takes over a high-profile DG, which is key to the Commission's 'jobs and growth' agenda.

DG Maritime Affairs & Fisheries – MARE

João Aguiar Machado (Portugal) Commissioner Karmenu Vella

Having been at the Transport DG for just over a year, Mr Machado finds himself moved to DG MARE. As an experienced Commission official, he will support the low-profile Commissioner Vella along with Daniel Calleja Crespo at ENV.

DG Taxation & Customs Union – TAXUD

Stephen Quest (UK) (takes effect on 1st January 2016) Commissioner Pierre Moscovici

Stephen Quest moves from the little-known DG for Informatics to lead the Taxation DG, where he will work on some key files, including the Financial Transaction Tax, and the Commission's new Action Plan on Corporate Taxation.

Secretary-General of the Commission

Alexander Italianer (Netherlands) Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker

With the surprise news that longstanding Secretary-General Catherine Day would step down came the promotion of Alexander Italianer to the top job. He previously served as Day's deputy, but currently heads DG Competition.

DG Communications Networks, Content & Technology – CNECT

Roberto Viola (Italy) Commissioner Günther Oettinger

An internal promotion for engineer Roberto Viola, who takes the lead in the Commission's digital department. Incumbent Robert Madelin becomes "Senior Adviser for Innovation" at the European Political Strategy Centre (EPSC).

DG Competition – COMP

Johannes Laitenberger (Germany) Commissioner Margrethe Vestager

Promotion for Laitenberger was expected – he moves from the Legal Service. Having served as Chef de Cabinet for Commission President Jose Barroso, he is not short of experience, and will make a formidable team with Commissioner Vestager.

DG Financial Services, Financial Stability & Capital Markets Union – FISMA

Olivier Guersent (France) Commissioner Jonathan Hill

A promotion from Deputy has long looked possible for Guersent, who was Chef de Cabinet for Michel Barnier for four years. His experience and nationality serve as a good balance for Commissioner Hill.

DG Humanitarian Aid & Civil Protection – ECHO

Monique Pariat (France) Commissioner Christos Stylianides

With a background in agriculture and fisheries, Ms Pariat moves from a Deputy DG position in AGRI and had been tipped for a promotion. The Commission remains short of its gender balance targets however.

DG Mobility & Transport – MOVE

Henrik Hololei (Estonia) Commissioner Violeta Bulc

Having been Chef de Cabinet for former Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas, Mr Hololei is a good fit for the MOVE position. He returns after a brief stint as Deputy Secretary-General of the Commission.

DG Agriculture & Rural Development – AGRI

Jerzy Plewa (Poland) Commissioner Phil Hogan

DG Budget – BUDG

Nadia Calviño (Spain) Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva

DG Climate Action – CLIMA

Jos Delbeke (Belgium) Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete

DG Economic & Financial Affairs – ECFIN

Marco Buti (Italy) Commissioner Pierre Moscovici

DG Employment, Social Affairs & Inclusion – EMPL

Michel Servoz (France) Commissioner Marianne Thyssen

DG Energy – ENER

Dominique Ristori (France) Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete

DG International Cooperation & Development – DEVCO

Fernando Frutuoso De Melo (Portugal) Commissioner Neven Mimica

DG Justice & Consumers – JUST

Vacant (Paraskevi Michou acting DG)

DG Migration & Home Affairs – HOME

Matthias Ruete (Germany) Commissioner Dimitris Avramapoulos

DG Neighbourhood & Enlargement Negotiations – NEAR

Christian Danielsson (Sweden) Commissioner Johannes Hahn

DG Regional & Urban Policy – REGIO

Walter Deffaa (Germany) Commissioner Corina Cretu

DG Research & Innovation – RTD

Robert-Jan Smits (Netherlands) Commissioner Carlos Moedas

DG Trade – TRADE

Jean Luc Demarty (France) Commissioner Cecilia Malmström