Elisabetta Siracusa appointed director for ‘International affairs’ at DG for Agriculture of the EU Commission

Brussels—The European Commission decided today to appoint Elisabetta Siracusa as Director for International Affairs in the Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI). This Commission department is responsible for the EU’s agriculture and rural development policy and deals with all aspects of the Common Agricultural Policy. A note explains that the date of effect will be determined at a later stage.

During her more than 30 years of experience, nearly 20 of which have been devoted to DG AGRI, Ms Siracusa has developed deep expertise in agricultural and trade policy, leading initiatives that balance EU and international priorities.
Throughout her over 30 years of experience,
including nearly 20 years dedicated to DG AGRI, Ms Siracusa has developed deep expertise in agricultural and trade policy, leading initiatives that balance EU and international priorities.

An Italian national, Ms Siracusa currently serves as Principal Adviser and Member of the Regulatory Scrutiny Board, an independent body within the Commission that advises the College of Commissioners and provides central quality control and support for Commission impact assessments and evaluations. Siracusa joined the Commission in 1994, beginning her career at DG AGRI. 

The Commission also decided today to appoint Ulferdus Gijsbertus Schilthuis as Director for ‘Sustainability’ in the Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI). The date of effect will again be determined at a later date. 

With 19 years of experience at the European Commission, including 16 dedicated to DG AGRI, Mr Schilthuis has a thorough expertise in EU agricultural policy.

A Dutch national, Mr Schilthuis currently serves as Head of the ‘Policy Perspectives’ Unit at DG AGRI.

He joined the Commission in 2005.