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Juncker appoints special adviser on European defense, security policy

Xinhua, February 17, 2015 Adjust font size:

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Tuesday appointed Michel Barnier as the special adviser on European defense and security policy.

"When this Commission took office, we said that we needed to work on a stronger Europe when it comes to security and defense matters," Juncker said.

"Michel Barnier has vast experience in the field of defense and security and is the right man to advise me and also the High Representative-Vice-President Federica Mogherini on these important matters for the future of Europe," he said in a statement.

Barnier served as the European Commissioner responsible for internal market and services in the Barroso Commission. He also served as the minister of foreign affairs in the French government.

The European Commission can hire special advisers, based on their special qualifications to assist one of the European institutions, either regularly or for a specified period. The position Barnier is taking up is an unpaid, part-time post, the statement said. Endit