Michel SPONAR, is working since December 2015 as Deputy Head of Unit at the European Commission, Directorate General for the Environment. He is leading a team of 22 persons dealing with Marine Environment and Water Industry. His team is involved in several files such as the revision of the Drinking Water Directive, the review of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive and of the Bathing Water directive but also the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. He was directly involved in the cooperation with OECD on the assessment of the investment needs and the financing opportunities in the EU water sector.

Before joining the water Unit, he was responsible for the preparation of the package on Circular Economy with a focus on the review of the target of the Landfill, the Packaging and the Waste Framework Directives. From 2002 to 2007, he was Member of the team in charge of the preparation, adoption and follow up of the Thematic Strategy on Air Pollution.

Between 1991 and 2002, he was Deputy Head of the Minister’ Cabinet for the Environment at the Brussels Region – in charge of municipal waste management, waste water management, air and climate, environmental permitting and inspection. He also worked during 3 years in the Seychelles and Madagascar in development projects related with rural development and environment.

His background is Bio Engineer (Scientific education) with a complement in Business Management.