Michela Matuella is Head of the Albania, North Macedonia Unit in the Directorate General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement negotiations of the European Commission since 2014 and Acting Director for the Western Balkans as of April 2021. She was previously member of the Cabinet of the Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy (2012-2014), after having worked on the EU accession negotiations with Croatia (2009-2012) and Romania (2003-2005), as well on the negotiations for the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Bosnia and Herzegovina (2005- 2006). She has been chargé d’affaires of the EU Delegation in Eritrea, after several years of work in sub-Saharan Africa (Kenya, Lesotho, Somalia). She holds a degree in Political Economy and an MSc in Development studies.