Looking ahead

The third anniversary of José Manuel Barroso's second stint presiding over the European Commission is fast approaching. And when you consider that that administration started three months late, that means that the college of commissioners is well past its half-life. No surprise then that senior members of commissioners' private offices are looking ahead. Michael Köhler, the head of the private office of Günther Oettinger, the European commissioner for energy, has moved to the department for development aid as director for the neighbourhood. Philippe Brunet, head of the private office of Androulla Vassiliou, the commissioner for education, culture, multilingualism and youth, has landed a directorship in the department for enterprise and industry. Yiannos Asimakis, Brunet's deputy in the cabinet, has been promoted to succeed him, and Jonathan Hill has been made the deputy. Over in the private office of Andris Piebalgs, the commissioner for development, the deputy head, Peteris Ustubs, has just moved to a directorship for west and central Africa in the European External Action Service.