Top Euro commission official appointed as EU’s envoy to Turkey

BRUSSELS

Stefano Manservisi, one of the leading officials in the European Commission, has been named as the new head of the EU Delegation to Turkey, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton announced Feb. 24.   

The EU’s mission to Turkey, its biggest delegation to a single country, has been without an ambassador since late October, when Jean-Maurice Ripert was appointed France’s ambassador to Russia.   

“I am delighted to announce the appointment of this excellent candidate to this key job in the European External Action Service. His talent and expertise are significant assets for the EU’s external action and I look forward to working with him in his new role,” Ashton said.
 
Manservisi is a senior European Commission official of Italian nationality with considerable experience with external relations matters. He is currently the commission’s director-general for home affairs. Before that, he was director-general for development between 2004 and 2010, head of Cabinet to President Romano Prodi between 2001 and 2004, and deputy head of Cabinet to Commissioner Mario Monti between 1995 and 2000.