Pierre Vimont
Encyclopedia
Pierre Vimont is the Secretary-General of the European External Action Service
(EEAS).
in law. He is a graduate of the Institut d'Études Politiques de Paris
and the École nationale d'administration
(1977). His current rank in the French civil service is "Ambassadeur de France", which is properly not a rank but a "dignity" bestowed upon a diplomat for life (unlike the other career ranks which cease to produce effect upon retirement or otherwise leaving the foreign service).
His first post was at the French Embassy in London, where he served as Second Secretary from 1977 to 1978 and First Secretary from 1978 to 1981. He then served at the Press and Information department in Paris from 1981 to 1985. From 1985 to 1986 he worked at the EastWest Institute
in New York
. Then he moved back to Europe to become the Second Councillor at the Permanent Representation of France at the European Community in Brussels
, from 1986 to 1990. He subsequently became chief of staff to the minister delegate of European affairs from 1990 to 1993. He was the director for development and of scientific, technical, and educational cooperation (1993-1996) and subsequently the adjunct general director of cultural, scientific, and technical relations (1996-1997), and the director of European cooperation (1997-1999). From 1999 to 2002 he was the ambassador and permanent representative of France at the European Union in Brussels. From 2002 to 2007 he was the chief of staff for the minister.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy
appointed him to the position of Ambassador to the United States on 1 August 2007. On 25 October 2010, he was selected by the European Union
's (EU) High Representative
to be the first Executive Secretary General of the European External Action Service
, which began operation on 1 December 2010.
He is a knight of the National Order of Merit
. He speaks French
, English
and Spanish
.
European External Action Service
The European External Action Service is a European Union department that was established following the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon on 1 December 2009...
(EEAS).
Biography
Vimont holds a licenceLicentiate
Licentiate is the title of a person who holds an academic degree called a licence. The term may derive from the Latin licentia docendi, meaning permission to teach. The term may also derive from the Latin licentia ad practicandum, which signified someone who held a certificate of competence to...
in law. He is a graduate of the Institut d'Études Politiques de Paris
Institut d'Études Politiques de Paris
The Institut d'études politiques de Paris , simply referred to as Sciences Po , is a public research and higher education institution in Paris, France, specialised in the social sciences. It has the status of grand établissement, which allows its admissions process to be highly selective...
and the École nationale d'administration
École nationale d'administration
The École Nationale d'Administration , one of the most prestigious of French graduate schools , was created in 1945 by Charles de Gaulle to democratise access to the senior civil service. It is now entrusted with the selection and initial training of senior French officials...
(1977). His current rank in the French civil service is "Ambassadeur de France", which is properly not a rank but a "dignity" bestowed upon a diplomat for life (unlike the other career ranks which cease to produce effect upon retirement or otherwise leaving the foreign service).
His first post was at the French Embassy in London, where he served as Second Secretary from 1977 to 1978 and First Secretary from 1978 to 1981. He then served at the Press and Information department in Paris from 1981 to 1985. From 1985 to 1986 he worked at the EastWest Institute
EastWest Institute
The EastWest Institute , originally known as the Institute for East West Security Studies, is an international not-for-profit, non-partisan "think and do" tank focusing on international conflict resolution through a variety of means, including track 2 diplomacy and track 1.5 diplomacy , hosting...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Then he moved back to Europe to become the Second Councillor at the Permanent Representation of France at the European Community in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, from 1986 to 1990. He subsequently became chief of staff to the minister delegate of European affairs from 1990 to 1993. He was the director for development and of scientific, technical, and educational cooperation (1993-1996) and subsequently the adjunct general director of cultural, scientific, and technical relations (1996-1997), and the director of European cooperation (1997-1999). From 1999 to 2002 he was the ambassador and permanent representative of France at the European Union in Brussels. From 2002 to 2007 he was the chief of staff for the minister.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy is the 23rd and current President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra. He assumed the office on 16 May 2007 after defeating the Socialist Party candidate Ségolène Royal 10 days earlier....
appointed him to the position of Ambassador to the United States on 1 August 2007. On 25 October 2010, he was selected by the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
's (EU) High Representative
High Representative
High Representative may refer to either:* The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy High Representative may refer to either:* The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy High Representative may refer to either:* The High...
to be the first Executive Secretary General of the European External Action Service
European External Action Service
The European External Action Service is a European Union department that was established following the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon on 1 December 2009...
, which began operation on 1 December 2010.
He is a knight of the National Order of Merit
Ordre National du Mérite
The Ordre national du Mérite is an Order of State awarded by the President of the French Republic. It was founded on 3 December 1963 by President Charles de Gaulle...
. He speaks French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
.