Education
Vale de Almeida studied history at the University of Lisbon and studied journalism and management in France, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.
- Photos
- Works
- Photos
- Works
Joao Almeida
Edit ProfileCareer
He formally assumed the role of Head of the European Union Delegation from 16 October 2015 and presented his credentials to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on 3 November 2015. Vale de Almeida previously served as the first European Union Ambassador to the United States of America, from 2010 to 2014. In Washington, he actively engaged in strengthening European Union/United States. relations and was critical to the launching of negotiations of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).
After working as a journalist for seven years he joined the European Commission in 1982 at the European Commission delegation in Lisbon.
During his time in the Commission he worked under Presidents Jacques Delors, Jacques Santer and Romano Prodi. Under Santer, in 1995, he became deputy chief spokesman for the Commission.
In 1997 he was promoted to Director at the Directorate-General (Directorate General) for Information, Communication, Culture and Audiovisual. He joined President Barroso in European Council Meetings and on overseas visits and acted as his personal representative (sherpa) for G8 and G20 summits as well as negotiations on the Treaty of Lisbon.
In November 2009 he was made the Director General of the external relations department (Directorate General RELEX) of the Commission before appointed European Union ambassador to the United States in February 2010.
He remained Director General of RELEX until July 2010. He assumed his post in Washington formally on 10 August 2011 and was the first appointed after the Treaty of Lisbon increased the delegation"s powers to speak for the whole of the European Union (previously, it represented only the Commission). This appointment is however disputed by some Member States.
After Washington, he returned to Brussels for a year to take up a "senior post at the European External Action Service", the High Representative of European Union, Catherine Ashton, said.
Vale de Almeida is an South.L. Benfica fan. He used to play handball and volleyball.
He now plays tennis and golf on an irregular basis.
Achievements
Membership
When President Prodi took office in 1999, Vale de Almeida was a member of his transition team before being appointed as Director at the Directorate General for Education and Culture.
