Brussels contacts seeks UK-wide views

 

The Spring saw the appointment of Hugh Laxton as Head of the UK Nature and Landscape Office in Brussels, replacing David Morgan. The office supports a partnership of UK statutory nature and countryside agencies – JNCC, English Nature, the Countryside Council for Wales and Scottish Natural Heritage. It ensures the interests of the UK agencies are represented as appropriate among the European institutions, provides timely intelligence of relevant EU policy developments, and facilitates visits by agency staff to Brussels.

 

Prior to his appointment, Hugh worked for the European Commission in Directorate-General Agriculture as the UK co-ordinator and desk officer for Latvia, in the unit responsible for rural development programmes in Finland, Spain, Sweden, UK and the Baltic states.

 

"For me, it was a fantastic coincidence that JNCC and the agencies were looking for a new Head of the UK Nature and Landscape Office, just as my contract with the European Commission was coming to an end," said Hugh. " After 12 years living and working in Brussels, I was keen to continue working here and to maintain and develop my links with the Commission, the Parliament and other Brussels networks, as well as regaining my links to the UK. This post fulfils all those wishes and more."

"My immediate and most striking impression of JNCC was the open friendliness of everyone and a high level of support, which is particularly important when working remotely from headquarters. The scale of the organisation seems to engender a sense of loyalty that is less evident in larger administrations."

 

Although JNCC is Hugh's base in terms of administration and personnel issues, his role also relates to the other agencies in the partnership – visiting CCW, SNH and English Nature will be among his priorities later in the year.