Luis Planas, secretary-general of the EESC, appointed minister in the government of Pedro Sánchez in Spain

On 6 June, the President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, invited Luis Planas to join his government as minister for agriculture. With 35 years of experience in European affairs, having served as diplomat, senior Commission official and MEP, and as an advocate of a strong, united and solidarity-based European Union, he has played a prominent role in the development of the EU institutions over the years. A champion of the European cause, in his view there is no alternative to the EU.

Mr Planas has been secretary-general of the European Economic and Social Committee since January 2014. He has always highlighted the importance of the EESC, which for him represents "the human face of Europe and, as the bridge between civil society and the European institutions, a unique forum".

In the words of Luca Jahier, president of the EESC: "Luis Planas is a staunch European and will continue to help build a Europe that reflects the aspirations of its citizens. It has been an honour to work with him and I have no doubt that his knowledge of how Europe operates will be an asset to Spain in the European Union".

Isabel Caño, vice-president for communication at the EESC, is sure that following his term as secretary-general of the EESC and with his awareness of the importance of civil society and the culture of dialogue in today's Europe, Luis Planas will continue to bring added value to the European project.

Originally from Valencia and a committed European, Mr Planas played an active part in bringing about Spain's membership of the European Union as a member of the Spanish negotiating team. As an MP in the Spanish Congress, he was spokesperson on European affairs and rapporteur for the ratification of Spain's accession treaty to the EU. From 1986 to 1993 he continued to devote himself to European affairs following his election as a Member of the European Parliament, where he sat on the Committees on Foreign Affairs and on Institutional Affairs.

He went on to become head of cabinet first for Manuel Marin, vice-president of the European Commission, and subsequently for Pedro Solbes, Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs. In 2004 he was appointed Spanish ambassador to Morocco and, in 2010, Spanish ambassador and permanent representative to the European Union.
In 2012 he was appointed regional minister for agriculture, fisheries and the environment in Andalucía, and in 2014 became secretary-general of the EESC.