04 July 2017

Mr Nikolaos (Nick) Panagiotopoulos was selected and appointed Administrative Director of Eurojust during the plenary meeting of the College of Eurojust on 30 May 2017. He took up his duties on 1 July 2017.

Mr Panagiotopoulos was born in Greece. He was awarded a Bachelor of Arts, Honours Political Science, Concordia University (1982), a Bachelor of Laws LLB, McGill University (1985), a Master’s degree in European Administration and Policy, Panteion University (2002), and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management, after having successfully completed a work-based programme co-organised by the European Commission and the University of Kingston (2014).

Mr Panagiotopoulos’ professional experience spans over 30 years, having served in both national and EU administrations in areas of human resources, budgeting and auditing. He chaired the Council Working Group on Staff Regulations during the Greek Presidency in 2003, ensuring that a political compromise was reached on the first major revision of the Staff Regulations in 50 years. This revision was foreseen in the White Paper for the Reform of the European Commission. In 2006, he was appointed Chairperson of the European Commission Task Force for the Simplification of Administrative Procedures, an initiative of then Vice-President, Mr Siim Kallas.

As Head of the Human Resources Unit at Eurojust, Mr Panagiotopoulos was responsible for the reorganisation of the unit and a change of its strategy, focusing on providing staff with professional customer-oriented services. As Administrative Director ad interim, he designed and implemented the first major reorganisation of the Administration, with a view to ensuring efficiencies and synergies, and focusing on supporting the operational activities of Eurojust.

Following his appointment, Mr Panagiotopoulos stated: ‘Eurojust serves European citizens by ensuring the judicial dimension in cases of serious cross-border crime. In an age of rising threats from organised crime, including new and increasingly hideous forms of terrorism, cybercrime and illegal immigrant smuggling, Eurojust’s role becomes even more significant. I undertake my responsibilities confident that, with the support of the College members representing their national judicial authorities and our highly committed and professional staff, we will be able to successfully face the many challenges ahead and serve justice across borders for a safer Europe.’

Photo: © Eurojust 2017

04 July 2017

Mr Nikolaos (Nick) Panagiotopoulos was selected and appointed Administrative Director of Eurojust during the plenary meeting of the College of Eurojust on 30 May 2017. He took up his duties on 1 July 2017.

Mr Panagiotopoulos was born in Greece. He was awarded a Bachelor of Arts, Honours Political Science, Concordia University (1982), a Bachelor of Laws LLB, McGill University (1985), a Master’s degree in European Administration and Policy, Panteion University (2002), and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management, after having successfully completed a work-based programme co-organised by the European Commission and the University of Kingston (2014).

Mr Panagiotopoulos’ professional experience spans over 30 years, having served in both national and EU administrations in areas of human resources, budgeting and auditing. He chaired the Council Working Group on Staff Regulations during the Greek Presidency in 2003, ensuring that a political compromise was reached on the first major revision of the Staff Regulations in 50 years. This revision was foreseen in the White Paper for the Reform of the European Commission. In 2006, he was appointed Chairperson of the European Commission Task Force for the Simplification of Administrative Procedures, an initiative of then Vice-President, Mr Siim Kallas.

As Head of the Human Resources Unit at Eurojust, Mr Panagiotopoulos was responsible for the reorganisation of the unit and a change of its strategy, focusing on providing staff with professional customer-oriented services. As Administrative Director ad interim, he designed and implemented the first major reorganisation of the Administration, with a view to ensuring efficiencies and synergies, and focusing on supporting the operational activities of Eurojust.

Following his appointment, Mr Panagiotopoulos stated: ‘Eurojust serves European citizens by ensuring the judicial dimension in cases of serious cross-border crime. In an age of rising threats from organised crime, including new and increasingly hideous forms of terrorism, cybercrime and illegal immigrant smuggling, Eurojust’s role becomes even more significant. I undertake my responsibilities confident that, with the support of the College members representing their national judicial authorities and our highly committed and professional staff, we will be able to successfully face the many challenges ahead and serve justice across borders for a safer Europe.’

Photo: © Eurojust 2017

Australia categorically condemns North Korea’s first launch of an Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile. 

This is a further dangerous escalation by a reckless regime.

The Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile launch is a dangerous and provocative act that destabilises the region and directly threatens all nations within range of this offensive weapon.

Australia will work with our international partners and allies to demonstrate that a provocation of this kind will bear consequences.

We again urge China to use its considerable leverage to rein in the dangerous behaviour of the North Korean leadership.

The world expects that we live in a rules-based system and this unacceptable missile launch is in breach of numerous United Nations Security Council Resolutions.

Australia has agreed to expanded autonomous sanctions against North Korea in response to its persistent threatening behaviour.

These sanctions will target North Korea’s extractive industries and its shipping network.

We will expand the grounds on which the Government can designate individuals and entities for targeted financial sanctions and travel bans.

Australia calls on all countries to implement UN Security Council Resolutions against North Korea as a matter of urgency, including UN Resolution 2356, adopted to on 2 June 2017.

Australia supports defensive measures required to respond to the threat posed by North Korean offensive missiles.  Any escalation of regional tensions is entirely the responsibility of the North Korean regime, which continues to brazenly threaten regional and global peace.

I will raise North Korea’s grave disregard for regional peace at my G20 meetings this week, and urge G20 leaders to take further strong action against North Korea.