Role of special advisers
Special advisers are selected based on their expertise and qualifications. There are two types:
Non-institutional special advisers provide direct assistance to the President, the Vice-Presidents and the Commissioners of the European Commission.
Institutional special advisers assist institutional bodies of the Commission.
General information on aspects of remuneration/days of work
Special Advisers work on a short-term basis for a very limited number of days per year (on average around 25) and these days may be remunerated or not (they are not for former Commission officials for instance). The amount of the fees per day of service is in principle set at three separate levels: 1/22 of the basic salary of an official on the first step in grade AD9, AD10 or AD12.
Appointing special advisers
Each special adviser must sign a document declaring that there is no conflict of interest between their duties as adviser to the European Commission and their other activities.
19 JUNE 2017
Rules for special advisers C(2014) 541
20 JUNE 2017
Rules for special advisers (C(2007) 6655)
20 OCTOBER 2020
Special Advisers - Privacy Statement
List of designated Special Advisers: Past
1 APRIL 2023
Special Advisers to the President and Commissioners of the European Commission - Exercice 2023
1 APRIL 2022
Special Advisers to the President and Commissioners of the European Commission - Exercice 2022
19 NOVEMBER 2021
Special Advisers to the President and Commissioners of the European Commission - Exercice 2021
5 MARCH 2021
Special Advisers to the President and Commissioners of the European Commission - Exercice 2020 (1/04/2020-31/03/2021 - unless otherwise stated) : Curriculum vitae and Declaration of honour
5 DECEMBER 2019
Special Advisers to the President and Commissioners of the European Commission 2019 : Curriculum vitae and Declaration of honour
List of designated Special Advisers: Current
1 APRIL 2024
Special Advisers to the President and Commissioners of the European Commission - Exercice 2024
| Special Advisers Type | Cabinet | Name | Purpose of appointment | Contract Start Date | Contract End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non- institutional | 1. von der Leyen | Mr Mario DRAGHI | To prepare a report on the future of European competitiveness | 03-10-2023 | 30-09-2024 |
| 1. von der Leyen | Mr Sauli NIINISTÖ | To write a report on how to enhance Europe's civilian and defence preparedness and readiness | 20-03-2024 | end of incumbent College | |
| 1. von der Leyen | Dr Peter PIOT | To advise the President of the European Commission on policy, initiatives and outreach related to European and global health security in the context of COVID-19 and other international health threats | 01-04-2024 | end of incumbent College | |
| 1. von der Leyen | Mr Peter STROHSCHNEIDER | Chair for the Strategic dialogue on the future of agriculture in the EU | 07-02-2024 | 30-09-2024 | |
| 3. Vestager | Mr Lars FRØLUND | To support the work of EVP Vestager in the area of research and innovation, in particular technological sovereignty | 01-04-2024 | end of incumbent College | |
| 4. Dombrovskis | Mr Christian KETELS | To advise on competitiveness issues | 01-04-2024 | end of incumbent College | |
| 5. Borrell | Mr Angel MELGUIZO | To advise the HR/VP about digital diplomacy | 01-04-2024 | end of incumbent College | |
| 5. Borrell | Mr Federico STEINBERG | To advise the HR/VP on global economic governance | 01-04-2024 | end of incumbent College | |
| 6. Šefčovič | Ms Pascale EHRENFREUND | To advise the Vice-President on shaping the strategic foresight agenda and mobilising key stakeholders to carry it forward | 01-04-2024 | end of incumbent College | |
| 6. Šefčovič | Ms Florence GAUB | To advise the Vice-President on shaping the strategic foresight agenda | 01-04-2024 | end of incumbent College | |
| 6. Šefčovič | Mr Bertrand PICCARD | To advise the Vice-President on emerging mega-trends affecting the EU, with a focus on decarbonisation and circular economy, and to contribute to the brainstorming on strategic foresight priorities, in particular those related to the green transition and challenges of sustainability | 01-04-2024 | end of incumbent College | |
| 9. Schinas | Mr Frans VAN DAELE | Special Envoy for the promotion of freedon of religion or belief (FoRB) outside the EU | 07-12-2022 | end of incumbent College | |
| 10. Hahn | Mr Jean-Claude JUNCKER | Former President of the European Commission | 05/12/2019 | end of incumbent College | |
| 10. Hahn | Mr Klaus REGLING | To advise Commissioner Johannes Hahn on matters related to NGEU, Unified Funding Strategy and Green Investments. Advice and accompany Commissioner Hahn during outreach activities to third partners on matters related to the above topics. | 01-04-2024 | end of incumbent College | |
| 11. McGuinness | Mr David O'SULLIVAN | Special Envoy for EU Sanctions (ESE) | 06-02-2023 | 05-02-2025 | |
| 17. Ferreira | Mr Joaquim OLIVEIRA MARTINS | To provide advice and knowledge in the field of Cohesion policy, synergies between Cohesion and innovation and entrepreneurship, regional development, and growth. | 01-04-2024 | end of incumbent College | |
| 18. Kyriakides | Mr Alberto COSTA | Scientific Advice on strategies against cancer | 01-04-2024 | end of incumbent College | |
| 24. Várhelyi | Dr Endre JUHÁSZ | To give legal and political advice to the Commissioner in relation to accession negotiations with the Western Balkans partners and in particular the constitutional process of Bosnia and Herzegovina | 01-04-2024 | end of incumbent College | |
| 25. Urpilainen | Ms Naja-Theresia HØEGH | To advise on Youth in International Partnerships | 01-04-2024 | end of incumbent College | |
| 25. Urpilainen | Ms Ritva REINIKKA | To advise on Education in International Partnerships | 01-04-2024 | end of incumbent College | |
| 27. Sinkevičius | Mr Karmenu VELLA | To advise on sustainability in various sectoral policies under the responsibility of Commissioner Sinkevičius, as well as in a wider context of the European Green Deal. | 01-04-2024 | end of incumbent College | |
| 10. Hahn | Ms Maria Isabel ROFES i PUJOL | Présidente de L'Instance visée à l'Article 143 du Règlement (UE, Euratom) N° 2018/1046 | 17-11-2023 | 16-11-2025 | |
| Institutional | 10. Hahn | Mr Igors LUDBORŽS | Vice-Président de L'Instance visée à l'Article 143 du Règlement (UE, Euratom) N° 2018/1046 | 17-11-2023 | 16-11-2025 |
| 10. Hahn | Mr Jean FOSSION | External Member of the Audit Progress Committee | 01-04-2024 | 31-03-2025 | |
| 10. Hahn | Mr Jean-Pierre GARITTE | External Member of the Audit Progress Committee | 01-04-2024 | 31-03-2025 | |
| 10. Hahn | Mr Ray PORTELLI | External Member of the Audit Progress Committee | 01-04-2024 | 31-03-2025 | |
| 10. Hahn | Ms Julia LAFFRANQUE | To fulfill the role of Controller of procedural guarantees in the context of investigations conducted by the European Anti-Fraud Office in accordance with the provisions set out in Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013, as amended | 13-09-2022 | 12-09-2024 | |
| 10. Hahn | Ms Françoise LE BAIL | Chairman of the Disciplinary Board of the Commission | 01-04-2024 | 31-03-2025 | |
| Quasi- institutional | 4. Dombrovskis | Mr Niels THYGESEN | Chair of the European Fiscal Board | 20-10-2023 | 19-10-2024 |
| 4. Dombrovskis | Mr Xavier DEBRUN | Member of the European Fiscal Board | 07-11-2023 | 19-10-2024 | |
| 4. Dombrovskis | Mr Massimo BORDIGNON | Member of the European Fiscal Board | 20-10-2023 | 19-10-2024 | |
| 4. Dombrovskis | Mr Mateusz SZCZUREK | Member of the European Fiscal Board | 20-10-2023 | 19-10-2024 | |
| 4. Dombrovskis | Mr Roel BEETSMA | Member of the European Fiscal Board | 20-10-2023 | 19-10-2024 | |
| REFORM | 17. Ferreira | Mr Francisco GARCÍA MORÁN | To provide support in the field of digital policies, e-government, IT governance, IT security and IT organisation, operations and services, as well as advice to the design and implementation of digital policies and for identification of experts. | 01-04-2024 | 31-12-2024 |