Formerly (1973-88), has been working as a researcher specialised in social policy analysis and evaluation, within an academic research centre (1973-79), and then within the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) (1980-88).

As Head of Unit "International Affairs and Enlargement" within the DG for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, he is currently in charge of the development of the employment and social policy dimension in the EU external relations: i.e. EU Enlargement policy, EU Neighbourhood policy, EU Bilateral relations (US, Japan, Canada, China, India, Latin America), relations with International organisations (UN, ILO, OECD, etc) and multilateral issues, in particular decent work and the social dimension of globalisation.

Born in 1952 in France.