EESC renewal: Diversity Europe Group Members take up new positions

Cillian Lohan is the new Vice-President in charge of communication at the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). Baiba MiltoviÄŤa takes over the Presidency of the Section for Transport, Energy, Infrastructure and the Information Society (TEN), while Alain Coheur will hold the Presidency of the Section for the Single Market, Production and Consumption (INT) and Panagiotis Gkofas will represent the Diversity Europe Group as one of the Committee's Quaestors. During the inaugural plenary session of the EESC's new term of office (2020-2025) on 28 and 29 October, the plenary appointed Members of the Diversity Europe Group to different leadership positions.

Ioannis Vardakastanis was appointed Vice-President of the Section for Economic and Monetary Union and Economic and Social Cohesion (ECO). Bernd SchlĂĽter will take over the Vice-Presidency of the Section for the Single Market, Production and Consumption (INT) and John Comer will be Vice-President of the Section for Transport, Energy, Infrastructure and the Information Society (TEN). Ariane Rodert will serve as Vice-President of the Section for Employment, Social Affairs and Citizenship (SOC). Arnaud Schwartz will take up the position of Vice-President of the Section for Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment (NAT), while IonuĹŁ Sibian will be the new Vice-President of the Section for External Relations (REX). Giuseppe Guerini will become a Member of the Bureau of the Committee's Consultative Commission on Industrial Change (known by its French acronym CCMI, Commission consultative des mutations industrielles).

Unlike EESC Members, who are elected for a five-year term of office, the presidencies of the EESC, its sections and other permanent and temporary bodies are elected for a period of two and a half years, in rotation between the three groups which make up the EESC. New presidencies usually start with the EESC renewal and at the mid-term renewal. The EESC's 2020-2025 term of office started on 27 October. The new presidencies will consequently last until April 2023.

Positions to be held by Diversity Europe Group Members during the 2020-2023 term

Cillian Lohan – EESC Vice-President in charge of Communication

Baiba Miltoviča – President of the TEN Section

Alain Coheur – President of the INT Section

Panagiotis Gkofas – Quaestor

Ioannis Vardakastanis – Vice-President of the ECO Section

Bernd Schlüter – Vice-President of the INT Section

John Comer – Vice-President of the TEN Section

Ariane Rodert – Vice-President of the SOC Section

Arnaud Schwartz – Vice-President of the NAT Section

Ionuţ Sibian – Vice-President of the REX Section

Giuseppe Guerini – Member of the CCMI bureau

Louise Christina Grabo– President of the Digital Transition and Single Market Observatory

Krzysztof Pater – Vice-President of the Labour Market Observatory

Lutz Ribbe – President of the Sustainable Development Observatory

Krzysztof Stanisław Balon – President of the thematic study group on Services of General Interest

Simo Tiainen – President of the thematic study group on Energy

Andreas Thurner – President of the thematic study group on Sustainable Food Systems

Pietro Vittorio Barbieri – President of the thematic study group on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Ioannis Vardakastanis – President of the EU-Euromed Follow-up Committee

Ionuţ Sibian – President of the EU-Western Balkans Follow-up Committee

Simo Tiainen – President of the EU-Russia Follow-up Committee

Christian Moos – President of the EU-Transatlantic Relations Follow-up Committee

Cristian Pîrvulescu – President of the ad hoc Group on Fundamental Rights and the Rule of Law

Background information

The EESC is made up of 329 Members from the 27 Members States. Nominated by their national governments, they are appointed by the Council of the European Union for a period of five years. They then work independently in the interests of all EU citizens. Members are not politicians but employers, trade unionists and representatives of various activities such as farming, consumer and environmental organisations, the social economy, SMEs, the liberal professions and associations representing persons with disabilities, the voluntary sector, gender equality, youth, academia, etc.

For the 2020-2025 term of office the Diversity Europe Group will be composed of 105 Members, who will, as usual, include a wide range of representatives and stakeholders from the economic, civic, professional and cultural fields.

For more information on EESC bodies visit the EESC webpage.

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PR EESC renewal Diversity Europe Group Members take up new positions