João Vale de Almeida
Encyclopedia
João Vale de Almeida formally became the European Union
(EU) ambassador to the United States
(US) on 10 August 2010.
, Japan
, the United Kingdom
and the United States
. After working as a journalist for seven years he joined the European Commission
in 1982 at the European Commission
delegation in Lisbon.
During his time in the Commission he worked under Presidents
Jacques Delors
, Jacques Santer and Romano Prodi
. Under Santer, in 1995, he became deputy chief spokesman for the Commission. Towards the end of the Santer Commission
he was promoted to Director-General of the Directorate-General (DG) for Information, Communication, Culture and Audiovisual.
When President Prodi took office in 1999, Vale de Almeida was a member of the transition team before being appointed as Director of the DG for Education and Culture
.
and G20 summits as well as neogtiations on the Treaty of Lisbon
.
In November 2009 he was made the Director General of the external relations department
of the Commission before appointed EU ambassador to the US in February 2010. He assumed his post formally on 10 August 2011 and was the first appointed after the Treaty of Lisbon
increased the delegation's powers to speak for the whole of the EU (previously, it represented only the Commission);
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
(EU) ambassador to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(US) on 10 August 2010.
Early life
Vale de Almeida studied history at the University of Lisbon and studied journalism and management in FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. After working as a journalist for seven years he joined the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
in 1982 at the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
delegation in Lisbon.
During his time in the Commission he worked under Presidents
President of the European Commission
The President of the European Commission is the head of the European Commission ― the executive branch of the :European Union ― the most powerful officeholder in the EU. The President is responsible for allocating portfolios to members of the Commission and can reshuffle or dismiss them if needed...
Jacques Delors
Jacques Delors
Jacques Lucien Jean Delors is a French economist and politician, the eighth President of the European Commission and the first person to serve three terms in that office .-French Politics:...
, Jacques Santer and Romano Prodi
Romano Prodi
Romano Prodi is an Italian politician and statesman. He served as the Prime Minister of Italy, from 17 May 1996 to 21 October 1998 and from 17 May 2006 to 8 May 2008...
. Under Santer, in 1995, he became deputy chief spokesman for the Commission. Towards the end of the Santer Commission
Santer Commission
The Santer Commission was the European Commission in office between 23 January 1995 and 15 March 1999. The administration was led by Jacques Santer ....
he was promoted to Director-General of the Directorate-General (DG) for Information, Communication, Culture and Audiovisual.
When President Prodi took office in 1999, Vale de Almeida was a member of the transition team before being appointed as Director of the DG for Education and Culture
Directorate-General for Education and Culture (European Commission)
The Directorate-General for Education and Culture is a Directorate-General of the European Commission.The Education and Culture Directorate-General’s mission has three main aspects:* Building a Europe of knowledge...
.
Under President Barroso
In 2004 he joined President José Manuel Barroso's new team as head of the transition team, then head of cabinet. He joined President Barrroso's on overseas visits and acted as his personal representative for G8G8
The Group of Eight is a forum, created by France in 1975, for the governments of seven major economies: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In 1997, the group added Russia, thus becoming the G8...
and G20 summits as well as neogtiations on the Treaty of Lisbon
Treaty of Lisbon
The Treaty of Lisbon of 1668 was a peace treaty between Portugal and Spain, concluded at Lisbon on 13 February 1668, through the mediation of England, in which Spain recognized the sovereignty of Portugal's new ruling dynasty, the House of Braganza....
.
In November 2009 he was made the Director General of the external relations department
Directorate-General for External Relations (European Commission)
The Directorate-General for the External Relations was a Directorate-General of the European Commission, responsible for the external policy...
of the Commission before appointed EU ambassador to the US in February 2010. He assumed his post formally on 10 August 2011 and was the first appointed after the Treaty of Lisbon
Treaty of Lisbon
The Treaty of Lisbon of 1668 was a peace treaty between Portugal and Spain, concluded at Lisbon on 13 February 1668, through the mediation of England, in which Spain recognized the sovereignty of Portugal's new ruling dynasty, the House of Braganza....
increased the delegation's powers to speak for the whole of the EU (previously, it represented only the Commission);
See also
- United States – European Union relations
- Delegation of the European Union to the United States
- William KennardWilliam KennardWilliam E. Kennard is the U.S. Ambassador to the European Union. He was nominated by Barack Obama in August 2009 and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in November 2009. He was also chairman of the United States Federal Communications Commission from 1997 to 2001, appointed by Bill Clinton in November...
, US ambassador to the EU
External links
- Ambassador's Corner, Delegation of the European Union to the United States
- External relations role for João Vale de Almeida, European Voice (3 June 2009)