Brussels, 30 October 2024
The European Commission has decided today to appoint Elisabetta Siracusa as Director for ‘International Affairs’ 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.
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. Her extensive experience in managing multilateral and bilateral relations and her ability to provide strategic guidance have been essential in multiple high-stakes negotiations. Among her accomplishments, Ms Siracusa played a critical role in establishing early frameworks for geographical indications agreements, vital for protecting EU agricultural products, and led the early phases of development of regional Free Trade Agreements, which directly impact EU agriculture and rural economies. Her inter-institutional coordination skills, combined with strong management experience and communication capabilities, further reinforce her suitability for leading DG AGRI’s ‘International Affairs’ Directorate.
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. Previously, as Principal Adviser at the Directorate-General for Financial Stability, Financial Services, and Capital Markets Union (DG FISMA), she advised on EU sustainable finance, particularly in sectors such as energy and forestry. Earlier in this Commission mandate, Ms Siracusa served as Deputy Head of Cabinet for Commissioner Phil Hogan responsible for trade, and also in the former mandate when she had the portfolio responsibility for agriculture. Ms Siracusa joined the Commission in 1994, starting her career at DG AGRI.