Portuguese diplomat to represent EU post Brexit

The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, has chosen Portuguese diplomat João Vale de Almeida to head the EU’s future delegation in the UK following Brexit.

“I can confirm that the High Representative and [Commission] Vice-President intends to appoint João Vale de Almeida as leader of the future European Union delegation to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,” Virgine Battu-Henriksson, a spokeswoman for the commission, told Lusa.

She added that “the formal appointment will only take place after the UK leaves the European Union”, which is scheduled for 31 January, and after gaining the approval of the British authorities, which is indispensable.

With more than three decades of experience in the EU, Vale de Almeida, 62, has held positions such as spokesman for the commission and director-general before becoming chief of staff and chief adviser to José Manuel Barroso, a former prime minister of Portugal, during his first term as president of the commission (2004-2009).

