Change in the senior management in the Council's General Secretariat

The Secretary-General of the Council, Thérèse Blanchet, has decided to entrust the management of the Directorate-General for Organisational Development and Services (DG ORG) to Cesare Onestini, the current Director-General for Agriculture, Fisheries, Social Affairs and Health in the Council.

He will take up his new post as Director-General of DG ORG on 1 January 2025 when the incumbent, William Shapcott, retires.

Mr Onestini will remain the acting Director-General in his current post until a successor has been selected.

Cesare Onestini is an Italian national who combines a background in education and training policy with extensive experience in policy development and management. Prior to his appointment as Director-General in the Council’s General Secretariat on 16 February 2022, he was Director of the European Training Foundation and he has served in various positions in the EEAS, both in EU delegations abroad and at the seat in Brussels, as well as in the European Commission, in areas such as transport and trade.

• Biography of Cesare Onestini 

The Directorate-General for Organisational Development and Services is responsible for the organisational development of the GSC and the provision of key support services: protocol and meeting organisation, human resources, building and logistics, finance as well as safety and security.