Frenchwoman grabs financial affairs top job

By Tim King

Date: 02/06/05

An official from France's finance ministry has been appointed to the European Commission's economic and financial affairs department, with a vital role in preparing for the monthly meetings of EU finance ministers.

Odile Renaud-Basso, 40, will act as the secretary of the economic and financial committee and the economic policy committee, the meetings of high-level officials from the member states who prepare the work of the Eurogroup and Ecofin. Although housed as a director in the Commission, her work is primarily with the Council of Ministers. She succeeds Günter Grosche, a German official who left earlier this year.

Renaud-Basso is currently head of international and European affairs in the treasury section of France's ministry of the economy, finance and industry. She is also a director of the European Investment Bank.

The appointment was endorsed by European commissioners yesterday (1 June). The Commission also appointed its first Pole to a senior management post. Miroslav Zielinski, currently under-secretary of state in the ministry of economy and labour, will be director of customs in the Commission's tax and customs directorate-general.

In other appointments, Robert Jan Smits, has been confirmed as a director in DG Research. Erik Van der Linden has been appointed head of the delegation in Kenya and Francesca Mosca, currently head of the Commission's delegation in Zimbabwe is to head the delegation in Nicaragua.

Article reports on the appointment of Frenchwoman Odile Renaud-Basso, 40, as the Secretary of the Economic and Financial Committee and the Economic Policy Committee, the meetings of high-level officials from the EU Member States who prepare the work of the Eurogroup and Ecofin. Although housed as a Director in the European Commission, her work was to be primarily with the Council of Ministers. She succeeded Günter Grosche, a German official who left earlier in 2005.