Christian Wigand Appointed Interim Head of EU Commission in Vienna

Brussels – Christian Wigand, the current spokesman for the European Commission, will assume the role of acting head of the Commission's representation in Vienna starting September 1. This announcement was made to the APA on Thursday, following the retirement of Wolfgang Bogensberger, who has been temporarily leading the office since January. The timeline for appointing a permanent successor remains uncertain. Wigand has been with the European Commission since late 2014, initially serving under President Jean-Claude Juncker, where he focused on labor, social affairs, justice, and consumer protection. Under the current President Ursula von der Leyen, he has taken on responsibilities related to rule of law, justice, consumer protection, and equality. His extensive experience in EU affairs positions him well for this new role. Before joining the Commission, Wigand worked as a spokesman and cabinet member for the Austrian Justice Ministers Wolfgang Brandstetter and Beatrix Karl, both affiliated with the ÖVP party. He hails from Graz and holds degrees from the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna and a master's in international relations, showcasing a strong academic background in diplomacy and governance. The previous representative, Martin Selmayr, has transitioned to serve as the EU Ambassador to the Holy See, the Order of Malta, and various UN organizations in Rome. Selmayr's tenure was marked by controversy, particularly regarding his comments on Austria's energy dependence on Russian gas amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.