Pierre Mirel worked at the French embassies in Cairo (1971-74) and in Saïgon (1974-76), then at the International Institute for Public Administration, Paris (1977-81). He joined the European commission in 1981 where he was in charge of the Relations with the Newly Industrialised Countries; Trade and Industrial Co-operation in the DG Industry until 1988. From 1988 to 1989, he was in charge of Trade relations and Co-operation with Asia and Latin America in the DG External Relations. In the same DG, he was from 1990 to 1994 Task Manager of the Phare programme of assistance to Central Europe, and, from 1995 to 1997, Head of Unit ""Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania"". From 1997 to 2001, he was Head of the Pre-Accession and Enlargement Co-ordination Unit in the DG Enlargement. From 2001 to 2003, he acted as Negotiator for Hungary; Director for Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovenia, and Slovakia in the DG Enlargement. He was Director for ten Acceding Countries in 2003-2004.