Prior to his appointment in Washington, he served as the General Director for external relations at the European Commission, helping to formulate the EU’s foreign policy and playing a key role in preparing for the new European External Action Service (EEAS) introduced by the Treaty of Lisbon. From 2004-09, he was the head of cabinet for European Commission President José Manuel Barroso. He also acted as the EU sherpa for G8 and G20 Summits from 2005-10. Before joining the European Commission in 1982, he spent seven years as a journalist. He holds a degree in history from the University of Lisbon and has studied and received training in journalism and management in the United States, France, Japan, and the United Kingdom.