Poul has had a long career in Danish diplomatic service, including as Permanent Representative to the EU for 9 years and bilateral ambassador to Italy and to Belgium.
He was Chief negotiator for the Council during the final phase of the enlargement negotiations in 2002. In addition he worked 18 years in the European Institutions serving as Head of Cabinet for the Secretary General of the Council (1980-1995) and and for Commissioner Fischer Boel (2006-2009). He was Special Advisor to the High Representative on Foreign and Security Policy and was instrumental in setting up the European External Action Service, which is the EU’s diplomatic corps.
He is Chairman of the Board of the renowned Brussels think-tank the European Policy Centre, as well as President of the Board of the Danish think-tank EUROPA. He is a frequent public speaker on European Affairs and often consulted as an expert by both governments and corporates.
Poul holds a Master of Economics from Copenhagen University and Diploma of Higher European Studies from College of Europe, Bruges.
