European Commission Appoints Panayiotis Pourgourides as Head of Representation in Nicosia

Today, Panayiotis Pourgourides has been appointed as new Head of the European Commission Representation in Nicosia, Cyprus. In this function, he will act as the official representative of the European Commission in Cyprus under the political authority of President Ursula von der Leyen. The date of effect for this appointment will be determined later.

Mr Pourgourides, a Cypriot national with a strong background in international relations, 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 for representing the Commission in Cyprus. His professional experience has given him a deep understanding of how to navigate complex communication environments, build constructive relationships with a wide range of actors, and communicate effectively across different levels of governance. These qualities, combined with his vast knowledge of European institutions, make him particularly well suited to lead the Commission's work in Cyprus.

Most recently, Mr Pourgourides served as Member of Cabinet of Commissioner Stella Kyriakides. Prior to joining the Commission, he worked in the House of Representatives of the Republic of Cyprus and as Secretary of the Cyprus Parliamentary Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

Background

The Commission maintains Representations in all capitals of EU Member States, and Regional Offices in Barcelona, Bonn, Marseille, Milan, Munich and Wroclaw. The Representations are the Commission's eyes, ears and voice on the ground in EU Member States. They interact 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 are her political representatives in the Member State to which they are posted.