The European Commission has decided today to appoint Hanna Jahns as Director ‘Disaster Preparedness and Prevention’ for its Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO). This department coordinates the response of the EU to disasters and emergencies through the provision of humanitarian aid and civil protection assistance. The date of effect of her appointment will be determined later.
Hanna Jahns, a Polish national, brings with her a thorough knowledge of a wide range of EU policies, including in the field of international relations and cooperation, along with her proven leadership, negotiations and communication skills. She also played a key role in coordinating funding arrangements in support of the Commission’s humanitarian and civil protection operations in the face of unexpected crisis situations around the world.
Hanna Jahns is currently Deputy Head of Cabinet of Commissioner for Budget and Administration Johannes Hahn, being notably in charge of the Multiannual Financial Framework and NextGenerationEU. Previously, she served as Adviser and Member of Cabinet for the same Commissioner while he was in charge of neighbourhood policy and enlargement negotiations, and prior to that, regional policy.
In 2019, she was Head of the unit in charge of audit and internal control in the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR). From 2007 until 2010, she served as Secretary of State, Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Regional Development in Poland. Before joining the Commission in 2007, she worked in the Permanent Representation of Poland to the EU as Head of the Regional and Cohesion Policy Section.