Panicos Pourgourides has formally taken office this week as the new Head of the European Commission Representation in Nicosia (HoR).
In this role, he will serve as the official representative of the European Commission in Cyprus under the political authority of President Ursula von der Leyen, a European Commission press release said on Friday.
On the Thursday, the newly appointed Head of Representation had his first meeting with the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides.
A Cypriot national with a strong background in international relations, Pourgourides brings extensive experience from a career spanning European affairs and national politics.
“Over the years, he has developed strong skills in strategic insight, stakeholder engagement, policy coordination, and diplomacy, which are directly relevant to representing the Commission in Cyprus,” the press release reads.
His professional experience, it adds, “has given him a deep understanding of how to navigate complex communication environments, build constructive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, and communicate effectively across different levels of governance.”
“These qualities, combined with his extensive knowledge of European institutions, make him particularly well-suited to lead the Commission’s work in Cyprus,” it notes.
Most recently, Pourgourides served as a Member of the Cabinet of Commissioner Stella Kyriakides, while prior to joining the Commission, he worked in the House of Representatives of the Republic of Cyprus and as Secretary of the Cypriot Parliamentary Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
It is recalled that the European Commission maintains Representations in all the capitals of EU Member States, as well as Regional Offices in Barcelona, Bonn, Marseille, Milan, Munich, and Wroclaw. According to the EU executive, the Representations act as the Commission’s eyes, ears, and voice on the ground in EU Member States. They engage with national authorities, stakeholders, and citizens, and inform the media and the public about EU policies.
Heads of Representations are appointed by the President of the European Commission and serve as her political representatives in the Member State to which they are assigned, the press release concludes.