João Vale de Almeida

João Vale de Almeida
Ambassador of the European Union to the United Nations
Assumed office
16 October 2015
Ambassador of the European Union to the United States
In office
10 August 2010 – 31 October 2014
Personal details
Born 29 January 1957
Lisbon, Portugal
Nationality Portuguese
Alma mater University of Lisbon
Profession Journalist, European Official

João Vale de Almeida (born 29 January 1957, Lisbon) is the current European Union (EU) ambassador to the United Nations (UN). He formally assumed the role of Head of the EU Delegation in New York from 16 October 2015[1] and presented his credentials to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on 3 November 2015.

Vale de Almeida previously served as the first EU Ambassador to the United States of America, from 2010 to 2014. In Washington, he actively engaged in strengthening EU/U.S. relations and was critical to the launching of negotiations of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).[2]

Early life

Vale de Almeida studied history at the University of Lisbon and studied and received training in journalism and management in France, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. After working as a journalist for seven years he joined the European Commission in 1982 at the European Commission delegation in Lisbon.[1]

During his time in the Commission he worked under Presidents Jacques Delors, Jacques Santer, Romano Prodi and José Manuel Barroso. Under Santer, in 1995, he became deputy chief spokesman for the Commission. In 1997 he was promoted to director at the Directorate-General (DG) for Information, Communication, Culture and Audiovisual.[1][2]

When President Prodi took office in 1999, Vale de Almeida was a member of his transition team before being appointed as director at the DG for Education and Culture.[1][2]

Under President Barroso

Between 2004 and 2009, Vale de Almeida was the Head of Cabinet (Chief of staff and main adviser) for European Commission President José Manuel Barroso. He accompanied President Barroso in all European Council (EU Summit) meetings and ensured coordination with the private offices of Heads of State and Government in all 28 Member States of the EU. He was also the President’s Personal Representative for the negotiations on the Treaty of Lisbon and acted as his personal representative (sherpa) for G8 and G20 summits as well as negotiations on the Treaty of Lisbon.[1][2]

External Relations of European Union

In November 2009 he was made the Director General of the external relations department (DG RELEX) of the Commission before appointed EU ambassador to the US in February 2010.[1][2] He remained Director General of RELEX until July 2010. He assumed his post in Washington formally on 10 August 2010 and was the first appointed after the Treaty of Lisbon increased the delegation's powers to speak for the whole of the EU (previously, it represented only the Commission).[3]

Hobbies

Vale de Almeida is an S.L. Benfica football (soccer) fan. He likes travelling and avidly follows global affairs. He used to play competitive youth handball and volleyball. He now plays tennis and golf on an irregular basis.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Ambassador João Vale de Almeida: Biography, Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 EUROPEAN CURRICULUM VITAE: VALE DE ALMEIDA, JOÃO, European Commission
  3. ↑ Rettman, Andrew (11 August 2010 ) EU envoy to US flaunts new powers, EU Observer
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