Alain Servantie is French and was born in Bordeaux (France), where he graduated in Law, Political Sciences and Sociology. He joined the European Commission in 1971. Functions within the Commission include: Department of Relations with the Mediterranean Countries (1971-74); Deputy Head of the EEC Information Office, Ankara (1975-81); Desk Officer for Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Euro-Arab Dialogue, Directorate of Relations with the Mediterranean Countries (1981-83); Administrator in the Intergovernmental Cooperation between the Member States Division, Secretariat-General of the European Commission (1983–87); Private Assistant to Director General for Telecommunications, Information Industries and Innovation (1987– 92). Between 1993 and 2000, Alain Servantie was Head of the Unit ‘International Regulatory Aspects of Communications Services’, in the Directorate General Information Society. He was in charge of managing the international relations of the European Communities in the field of communications services, a function in which he dealt with the enlargement process. As Head of the Turkish team in DG Enlargement between June 2000 and February 2001 he was responsible for the negotiations with Turkey and for drafting the Commission’s regular report and the European Union’s Accession Partnership for this country. Between 2002 and 2012 Alain Servantie was as Advisor and Head of Unit in DG Enlargement in charge of interinstitutional issues. He retired in November 2012.