Education

Born on June 30th, 1964 in Saint-Vallier, Saône et Loire.

After graduating from high school in 1982 magna cum laude, I was admitted as an undergraduate in Litterature at the Lycée Louis le Grand and at the Lycée Henri IV. I choosed the Lycée Henri IV. After graduation, I was admitted at the Institut d’études politiques de Paris.

I graduated from IEP in 1985, specializing in “Civil service”. Then I applied to study at ENA, l’Ecole nationale d’administration. Back then, I had a growing interest for public affairs and was looking for a cause I could make mine. After a year of undergraduate preparing for the ENA’s admission tests, I passed the written exams but failed the oral test. Notwithstanding this setback, I enrolled in economical studies (DESS 203), specializing in financial markets, future markets, raw materials markets, a program led by Professor Yves Simon at the Université Parix IX Dauphine.

During the summer 1987, I did an internship in a subsidiary of Indosuez as a “trader on currency markets”. Two months later, the upper management offered me a “VSNE” position in New York.

I decided to stick to my early aspirations, and re-apply for the ENA. I was admitted in 1988. Before starting my curriculum, I joined the army to fulfill my national service duty. My training took place at the special military training school of Coetquidan and then served as an Army officer. In 1990, I finally started my curriculum at the ENA. I did few internships, including one at the French Embassy in Mexico, which initiated my ardor for travels and diplomacy.

Ministry of European and Foreign Affairs

After graduating at the ENA, I decided to serve my country at the Ministry of European and Foreign affairs. I started my career in 1992 as a scribe for the direction of legal affairs, in charge of issues such as nuclear energy (including the Euratom treaty), outer-space affairs (UN committee for a pacific use of the outer-atmosphere space, bilateral agreements, services for outer-space launch, international outer-space session…), the Channel tunnel and other trans-boundaries issues (Lyon-Turin railroad connection, bridge on the Rhin river…). I worked at this position for 4 years (1992-1996).

I then moved to Brussels in 1996, where I was nominated a national expert of the Ministry of foreign affairs in position at the European Commission, working directly with the trade administration. I spent three years there (1996-1999) under the supervision of Peter Carl. I handled cases such as the market release of genetically-modified corn, of semiconductors, outer-space issues (EGNOS, Galileo) and mostly the complex litigation with Japan regarding Japan’s Ministry of transportation‘s call for tenders in order to purchase a satellite-based navigation system that most European operators saw as a violation of the Government Procurement Agreement (Accord sur les marchés publics, AMP) as set by the WTO.

French diplomat

Following this experience, I was appointed a Counsellor at the French Permanent Representation to the European Union, thus becoming a French diplomat in the heart of the European system. I was designated to fulfill the tasks of Counsellor in charge of relations with the European Parliament, a complex but fascinating responsibility, which demands an acute technical expertise on a broad range of issues, and excellent relations with other representatives and the political world at large.

In 2001, two years after starting my post at the Permanent Rep and just when the French Presidency 2000 ended, I was sent as Political Counsellor at the French Embassy in Rome, Italy, at the Farnese Palace. In 2004, I was called back to Paris by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of European and Foreign affairs to assist him as Head of Cabinet.

In 2006, I was nominated Minister Counsellor at the French Embassy in India, in New Delhi. In 2009, in the wake of three full and learning years, in a country that’s going through deep changes, I was nominated Consul general of France in Hong-Kong and Macao.

Latest posts in english:

Third Oil Shock: Why did the price of crude oil drop?

Posted on Jul 9th, 2012

The temporary drop in crude oil prices which began some months ago is due to a combination of factors affecting supply and demand. However, the trend is rising to the point that there seems to be a…

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The US-China G2

Posted on Jan 30th, 2012

In light of developments in emerging countries, particularly in China and India, a subject which has been widely reported, I would like to address a so-called US-China G2. The concept of G2 proposed…

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Strength, weaknesses, future of European consular cooperation

Posted on Nov 7th, 2011

I would like to briefly share with you some views about consular protection within the European Union, particularly in the wake of the Lisbon treaty. It is not a core issue for today’s Dialogue,…

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