On a proposal from the President approved by the Board of Directors, Mr Hugues Mingarelli has been appointed Expert Member of the Board of Directors to succeed Mr Edward Bannerman who had tendered his resignation.

Mr Mingarelli is currently Managing Director for North Africa, Middle East, Arabian Peninsula within the European External Action Service (EEAS).

Previously, Mr Mingarelli held various positions in the European Commission including as Deputy Director General for Eastern Europe, Caucasus, Central Asia, North Africa, Middle East, European Neighbourhood Policy (September 2007 to December 2010), Director for Middle East & South Mediterranean (February 2007 to August 2007) and Director for Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (July 2002 to January 2007).

Mr Mingarelli also served as a Director of the European Agency for Reconstruction from January 2000 to June 2002 (management of EU Assistance to Kosovo, Serbia, Montenegro and FYROM) and as Head of Unit for the New Independent States in the European Commission from 1990 to 1999.

Prior to that, Mr Mingarelli held the position of Principal Administrator from 1987 to 1990 (Country Officer for Nigeria) in the European Commission. He worked also as Administrator of the Audit of Structural Funds and European Development Fund in the European Court of Auditors. Between 1979 and 1982, he was a Financial Analyst in Paris.

The term of office of Mr Mingarelli will expire in 2018 at the end of the day either of the Annual Meeting or of the approval of the financial statements for the previous financial year, whichever is the later.