Bjoern Seibert
Björn Seibert | |
|---|---|
| Chief of Staff to the President of the European Commission | |
| Head of Cabinet | |
| Assumed office 2019[1] | |
| Appointed by | Ursula von der Leyen |
| Preceded by | Martin Selmayr |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1980 or 1981 (age 43–44)[2] Germany |
| Children | 2[1] |
| Alma mater | Erfurt University[1] |
Bjoern H. Seibert is a European civil servant from Germany who is the current Head of Cabinet for Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission.[3] He's worked with von der Leyen since she was Defence Minister of Germany.[4]
Seibert coordinated the EU's sanctions during the Russian invasion of Ukraine with the United States, with his role being described as "key" by a European diplomat.[3]
Education
Seibert studied political science at the University of Erfurt.[5] He has also studied at Kings College at University of Cambridge, the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, MIT, Georgetown, and Harvard.[6]
Career
He served for six years on the Policy Planning and Advisory Staff of the German Defence Minister under von der Leyen.[7]
European Commission
Seibert played a key role in whipping a majority in the European Parliament to confirm von der Leyen as President of the Commission following her election by the European Council.[1] In 2020, Seibert and von der Leyen were criticized for creating a large backlog of high-level and senior position vacancies at the Commission due to their insistence on having personal control over the appointments. Over 70 director, director general or deputy director general jobs were unfilled as well as over 80 mid-level positions. Over 21% of senior positions across departments were vacant in mid-October according to Politico.[8] He has been criticized for his role as leader of von der Leyen's advisers due to them not taking much input from people outside this inner circle, including from her commissioners.[9]
After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Seibert was "critical"[4] to the successful European negotiations with the United States regarding international sanctions on Russia.[10] According to an EU diplomat cited by the Financial Times, he was "the only one [that had] an overview on the EU and in constant contact with the US".[3]
Personal life
Seibert is married and has two children.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Bjoern Seibert, the power behind Queen Ursula's throne". POLITICO. 2025-07-08. Retrieved 2025-07-08.
- ^ https://www.politico.eu/list/politico-28-class-of-2023/bjoern-seibert/
- ^ a b c Pop, Valentina; Fleming, Sam; Politi, James (6 April 2022). "Weaponisation of finance: how the west unleashed 'shock and awe' on Russia". Financial Times.
- ^ a b "Europe's American president: The paradox of Ursula von der Leyen". POLITICO. 2022-10-06. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
- ^ "Bio". scholar.harvard.edu. Retrieved 2022-12-12.
- ^ Seibert, Bjoern H. (2010). About the Author (Report). Strategic Studies Institute, US Army War College. pp. vii–viii.
- ^ Peeperkorn, Marc (2022-05-04). "Björn Seibert, de sanctieman van Brussel, is de juiste man op de juiste plek". de Volkskrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 2022-12-12.
- ^ "'Berlaymont bottleneck' as senior EU vacancies stack up". POLITICO. 2020-10-19. Retrieved 2022-04-06.
- ^ "Bjoern Seibert". POLITICO. 2022-12-05. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
- ^ Fossum, Sam; Diamond, Jeremy (2023-02-24). "US-led sanctions campaign weakened Russia's economy in first year of Ukraine war. Year 2 is about sealing the cracks. | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved 2023-03-05.