Martin Selmayr shortlisted to be EU’s man in DC (or New York) – POLITICO

The “Berlaymont Monster” could make a comeback – in the United States

Martin Selmayr – once a powerful figure at the top of the EU’s executive institution – has been shortlisted to become EU ambassador to the United States or the United Nations, two officials told POLITICO.

Selmayr currently heads the European Commission’s office in Austria, a role he took on after leading the EU executive’s massive civil service under President Jean-Claude Juncker. He was also Junker’s influential chief of staff for four years.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss personnel decisions, said whether Selmayr is in the running to lead the EU delegation in Washington, DC, or to move to New York, he will not is not a shoo-in.

Selmayr has long been a controversial figure in Brussels, where he was seen as one of the EU’s most important behind-the-scenes operators. He helped push the EU agenda as the bloc doubled down on its ties to Russian gas – a move that is now rapidly reversing.

Selmayr’s 2018 promotion to Secretary-General of the Commission – which oversees the institution’s important civil service – caused uproar in Brussels at the time, fueling accusations that procedures were bent to do so. rise to the highest position.

Now, Selmayr could soon see himself in a leading role again, albeit away from Brussels.

The EU posts in DC and New York are up for filling as current ambassadors near the end of their terms.

The EU ambassador in Washington, Greek diplomat Stavros Lambrinidis, and his Swedish colleague at the UN, Olof Skoog, have been in post since 2019. And, according to standard EU practice, diplomats change every four years.

According to the EU’s own guidelines, ambassadors are appointed by the presidents of the Council and the Commission, on a proposal from the EU’s foreign policy chief.

The European External Action Service, the EU’s diplomatic arm, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.