Following May’s European Parliament elections, and the appointment of incoming European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, the next European Commission is set to take office on 1 November 2019. This period of change for the EU offers an opportunity to take stock and reflect on the future direction of the EU. Drawing on her extensive experience as a European Commission official, Catherine Day presents her view on the priorities for the incoming European Commission as well as offering her views on the inter-institutional dynamics which might be at play.
About the Speaker:
Catherine Day served as Secretary-General of the European Commission for a decade from 2005 to 2015. She joined the European Commission in 1979. She served in a number of cabinets, in portfolios such as competition policy and external relations before moving to the Directorate-General for Enlargement in 1997. In 2000, she attained the rank of Deputy Director-General in External Relations, playing a crucial role in the EU’s significant enlargement process. In 2005, she became the EU’s most senior civil servant following her appointment as Secretary-General. Following her retirement from the European Commission, she served as Special Advisor to President Jean-Claude Juncker.
