Brussels, 30 October 2024
The EU Commission has decided today to appoint Ulferdus Gijsbertus Schilthuis as Director for ‘Sustainability’ at the Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI). This Commission department is responsible for EU policy on agriculture and rural development and deals with all aspects of the common agricultural policy. The date of effect is to be determined at a later stage.
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. His in-depth knowledge encompasses policy formulation, implementation, and the strategic management of agricultural initiatives across the EU. Throughout his career, he has also honed his management skills, demonstrated strong strategic coordination abilities, and developed excellent interpersonal skills and a forward-thinking mindset. In his new role, he will draw upon his extensive knowledge of the Common Agricultural Policy— ranging from agricultural markets to rural development and organic production —contributing to the EU’s sustainability agenda.
A Dutch national, Mr Schilthuis currently serves as Head of the ‘Policy Perspectives’ Unit at DG AGRI. Between 2008 and 2019, he held various positions working on agricultural policy within the same DG and he previously served as Auditor at DG SANCO (now DG Health and Food Safety), where he gained valuable insights into regulatory compliance and safety standards that would later enhance his work in agricultural policy.
Before joining the Commission in 2005, Mr Schilthuis was a parliamentary assistant. He earned a Master’s degree in agricultural economics from Wageningen University.