Mr Taneli Lahti took office as Director for Global Issues and Deputy Managing Director for Global Issues and Communication at the European External Action Service on 1 June 2025. With over 30 years of experience in Foreign and European affairs, Mr Lahti brings a strong track record in steering policy development, strategic coordination, and high-level decision-making. Mr Lahti has played a key role in advancing major EU initiatives, contributing to the design and implementation of flagship programmes such as Global Gateway, and driving forward joint efforts under Team Europe. His ability to steer crosscutting strategies and ensure political coherence has been central to his career development. His broad policy exposure has equipped him with a deep understanding of EU governance, particularly in areas such as economic policy, development cooperation, and international partnerships. Mr Lahti, a Finnish national, was recently Head of Cabinet to the former Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, following which he transitioned to the Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA). During the Juncker Commission, he led the Cabinet of Vice-President Dombrovskis for the Euro and Social Dialogue, and briefly that of Vice-President Katainen for Economic and Monetary Affairs and the Euro. Earlier in his career, he served as Member of Cabinet to Commissioner Olli Rehn in both the Enlargement and Economic portfolios, and as Head of the Political Section at the Commission Office in Russia. Before joining the Commission in 2004, he held various positions in Finland's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.