Supremo bids farewell

Date: 21/11/1996

José Almeida Serra, the Portuguese director-general for fisheries, is the latest senior official preparing to leave the Commission to spend more time with his salary.

Article 50 procedures are now in progress for him to receive a golden handshake, like his fellow Director-General Heinrich von Moltke, and leave in the interests of the service.

It is no secret that for some time the fisheries supremo has not been getting on with his Commissioner, Emma Bonino.

Almeida Serra's departure will increase the number of top director-general jobs now available to at least four (DGs IX, X, XIV and XXIII) and could pave the way for a wide-ranging reshuffle of top Commission staff.

If the post remains in Portuguese hands and is filled from outside, remember Entre Nous told you first. If it does not and is not, please don't.