EFSA Names Future Executive Director

13/02/06 The EFSA Management Board has nominated Catherine Geslain-Lanéelle as future Executive Director of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). She will be formally appointed after her hearing in the European Parliament. The Executive Director is the legal representative of the Authority and is, among others, responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Authority.

Catherine Geslain-Lanéelle currently Regional Director of Agriculture and Forestry for the Ile de France Region and Vice-President of EFSA Management Board.

Before a formal appointment can be made, the nominee for the post of Executive Director shall appear before the European Parliament in order to make a statement and answer questions put forward by Members. It is understood that the hearing in front of the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee of the European Parliament will take place later this month.

The Executive Director is appointed by EFSA’s Management Board for a period of five years, renewable. The appointment is made on the basis of a list of candidates proposed by the European Commission after an open competition, following publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities and elsewhere of a call for expression of interest.