March 1, 2023
The European Commission has decided today to appoint Erica Gerretsen as Director ‘Human Development, Migration, Governance & Peace’ for its Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA). The Commission’s Directorate-General for International Partnerships is responsible for formulating the EU’s international partnership and development policy, with the ultimate goal to reduce poverty, ensure sustainable development, and promote democracy, human rights, and the rule of law across the world. The date of effect of her appointment is to be determined later.
Erica Gerretsen, a Dutch and French national, has obtained extensive expertise in the area of external relations, including through her experience with various EU Delegations in different regions. In addition to her robust experience in undertaking representation, management and negotiation duties, she is also endowed with a proven strategic planning capacity and sound judgement.
Currently Head of Unit ‘Macro-economic Analysis, Fiscal Policies and Budget Support’, she has been Acting Director ‘Sustainable Finance – Jobs & Growth’ in DG INTPA from January to October 2021. Prior to that, she headed several units ‘Financing for Development, Development effectiveness and EU-Joint programming’, ‘Central Africa’ and ‘West Africa’ in the same Directorate-General. She has headed the sector in charge of the European Instrument for Human Rights and Democracy in 2010-11. From 2004 to 2007, she was Head of the Economic section at the EU delegation in Benin, and policy officer in the Delegation in Slovenia from 1999 to 2001. Before joining the Commission in 1995, she worked as Programme Manager in the Council of European Municipalities and Regions.