Santer Commission
In 1995 he was appointed Diplomatic and Political Advisor to João de Deus Pinheiro, former Portuguese Foreign Minister and, at the time, European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response in the Santer Commission and responsible for the Cooperation with the ACP countries (African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States). The Chief of Cabinet of Commissioner Pinheiro was at that time Carlos Costa who currently serves as Governor of the Portuguese National Bank.