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21. 6. 201720:16

Aleš Chmelař became the new Secretary of State for European Affairs

Today, Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka installed the new Secretary of State for European Affairs, Aleš Chmelař. From now on, he is the Deputy for the administration of the Department for European Affairs at the Office of the Government. In addition to the role of the Secretary of State for European Affairs, Aleš Chmelař will also be Prime Minister’s assistant, who represents the Czech government at the preparatory talks in Brussels.

Aleš Chmelař graduated from the Sciences Po in Paris and from London School of Economics. Before taking the office, he had worked as a research worker in the field of financial markets at the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), the largest and oldest think-tank in Brussels.

Since 2014, he has worked as the main European analyst of the Office of the Czech Republic Government and as the director of the EU Economic Policy Coordination Division. He specialises in European economic and financial policy, transformation of post-communist countries and the industrial strategy of the central European area.

Aleš Chmelař was selected in a selection procedure in accordance with the Civil Service Act. He has worked closely for several years with former Secretary of State for European Affairs, Tomáš Prouza.  The first event where he will appear in his new role will be the European Council in June, which takes place in Brussels this Thursday and Friday.  In the following months, the new Secretary of State will devote himself to promoting Czech interests in the debate on the future of the EU, negotiating Brexit, defending Czech opinion on the issue of migration quotas and on the cooperation within the Visegrad Group.