[Portrait] João Vale de Almeida will become the first EU ambassador to London. Quite a symbol
(B2) Former EU ambassador to Washington and the United Nations, João Vale de Almeida, is leaving for London. The 62-year-old former chief of staff of José-Manuel Barroso will become the first EU ambassador to the United Kingdom after Brexit on February 1. It's now (almost) official
This news will come as no surprise to our loyal readers. The name of Vale de Almeida circulating in diplomatic alcoves (read: Notebook 09.09.2019).
This appointment is, however, not ordinary and is one of the very concrete symbols of the imminent British departure from the European Union. This is in fact the first time that an EU delegation — which is part of the European diplomatic network managed at the EEAS — has taken over from a representation of the European Commission, responsible for relaying and representing community interests in a Member state. This means, incidentally, a hierarchical change: the first depends on the High Representative of the EU, Josep Borrell, while the second depends on the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
From a formal point of view, however, the official designation will only take place after the departure of the United Kingdom and after agreement from the British authorities (as with any appointment of ambassador). But the future ambassador will be heard, behind closed doors, by the MEPs of the Foreign Affairs Committee on January 20.
Beginnings as a journalist
Born in 1957, graduated in history from the University of Lisbon, and trained in journalism in France, the United States and Japan, João Vale de Almeida began his career as a journalist at the daily Diário de Notícias before joining the daily newspaper Diário de Notícias in March 1982. European Commission, at the Lisbon Representation, as Deputy Head of Representation and Acting Head (September 1986 - December 1987).
Ten years of communication at the European Commission
In January 1989, he left the representation for Brussels, and became spokesperson within the Delors Commission. Then began a European career with Spanish or Portuguese personalities, all marked in the sphere of the EPP. He is responsible for external relations with the Middle East, Mediterranean, Latin America and Asia (with the Spanish commissioner, member of the People's Party, Abel Matutes) and energy policy (with the Portuguese commissioner). António Cardoso e Cunha (PSD)).
After an interlude at the Economic and Social Committee of the European Communities as head of the press unit (July 1992 - December 1994), at a time when this institution still had a luster, he returned to the Commission under Jacques Santer, from 1995 to 1997 , as deputy spokesperson, in charge of 'external relations' (ACP, South Africa) to the Portuguese commissioner João de Deus Pinheiro (PSD-PP).
In 1998, he was appointed director in the DG information, communication, culture and audiovisual - responsible for coordinating the Commission's representations in the Member States -, then director in the DG Education and Culture (May 2000 - June 2004), after being part of Romano Prodi's transition team in the summer of 1999 in the interim between the Santer Commission and Prodi.
A consecration as chief of staff of José-Manuel Barroso
It was in 2004 that João achieved recognition. He led the transition team (August - November 2004) of José-Manuel Barroso, former Portuguese Prime Minister, expected to be President of the European Commission, then became his chief of staff and his "sherpa" during his first mandate at head of the European executive (November 2004 - October 2009). A convinced Euro-Atlanticist, he developed within the presidential team the spirit of 'red tape' — the suppression of all unnecessary initiatives — a rather liberal vision in economic matters, and a limited role of the European Commission, at the service of the Member States, in a role more of executing the will of the States as having its own political autonomy. An ideological position, quite in line with that of the British.
A nomination in Washington that is causing debate...
After spending a short time as director general at DG Relex (November 2009 - spring 2010), he returned as EU ambassador in Washington. Her appointment caused some waves at the time among Member States and European parliamentarians who protested against the method of appointing, without consultation, High Representative Cathy Ashton (read: The “Vale de Almeida” file is making waves in the Council…). This will then give rise to a more codified procedure. In the key position of ambassador to the United States, he must manage the preliminaries of the negotiation of the transatlantic trade partnership treaty (Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), such as certain delicate passes of arms, on eavesdropping or the famous " Fuck EU" by Victoria Nuland to which he reacts not without humor (read: Europe's response to the United States. Love EU). His term ends in October 2014.
... then to New York
He was then considered for a management position in the European diplomatic service (read: João Vale de Almeida, future leader of the EEAS ?). But at the end of July 2015, he was appointed ambassador to the United Nations in New York by the new High Representative, Federica Mogherini (read: Rotation 2015. Portrait of the new EEAS ambassadors). Position he held from October 2015 until the end of 2019. Among his main issues then, the desire to defend multilateralism against American attacks, the management of the Iranian nuclear agreement or the Syrian conflict, etc. . While awaiting his appointment in London, he is appointed to a waiting position of 'high class advisor' to the Secretary General at the EEAS, appearing at the top of the organization chart.
(NGV with CG, st.)
