Antonia Mochan moves to London this month to take up the role. The move follows more than three years as the European Commission spokeswoman for science and research, based in Brussels.

Mochan said issues around climate change and the environment remained at the top of the agenda.

'The environment is something in which people are always interested. I've just come back from the US where we were talking about the environment, and people there look to the EU as a world leader - we're 15 years ahead. But whatever is worrying and interesting people is being looked at - petrol prices, food prices and so on.'

In the new role, Mochan oversees a team of five. As well as providing a service to British journalists on European issues, Mochan is also handling the European Commission's cultural diplomacy service, which involves organising film festivals and cultural events.

She replaces Anthony Gooch, who left earlier this year to become the director of public affairs and communications at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in Paris.

The European Commission (formerly the Commission of the European Communities) is the executive branch of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding
the EU's treaties and its day-to-day running.

The commission operates in the same way as a cabinet government, with 27 commissioners. There is one commissioner per member state, but commissioners are bound to represent the interests of the EU as a
whole.

Beginning her career at the commission in 1995, Mochan has worked in a number of areas before she was appointed as spokeswoman for employment and social affairs in 2003.