French President Emmanuel Macron has nominated Thierry Breton to be reappointed as a member of the European Commission.
In an official letter by the French Government to EC President Ursula von der Leyen, who recently received the green light for a second term, Philippe Léglise-Costa, Permanent Representative of France, announced Breton had been selected to be Commissioner for his country again.
A subsequent letter written by Macron goes on to praise Europe’s self-styled “digital enforcer”.
“Thierry Breton, through his own qualities and experience, particularly during his previous mandate, has demonstrated the general competence and European commitment that will enable him to continue to assume in complete autonomy the important responsibilities that you wish to entrust him within the College,” the president wrote.
The letters were accompanied by a Curriculum Vitae for Breton referring to his previous work as Commissioner, as head of France Télécom and his various ministerial portfolios in France.
MEPs have grilled the European Union’s self-styled “digital enforcer” Thierry Breton over his backing of what they termed “Stalinist” censorship via the Digital Services Act. https://t.co/uBWr9lGuWy
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) February 8, 2024
Breton had been Commissioner for Internal Market during the last legislative session, with the Frenchman pushing through two important pieces of digital legislation, the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
His new portfolio is expected to be different, with the politician rumoured to want a “heavyweight” economic role or to expand his current duties.
There is also a possibility he will get the new role of Defense Commissioner, as his portfolio for the Internal Market already included oversight of defence industry matters within the EU.
Breton spearheaded the EU’s plan of a European Defense Industry Strategy and pushed to set up a €100 billion EU defence fund.
His plans for producing ammunition came up short. EU promises for increased production to support Ukraine were vastly overstated, an investigative report recently claimed.
Breton had promised that the EU would be able to churn out at least 1.3 million rounds of ammunition by the end of this year.
In reality, the amount produced has been much lower.
An industry insider described Breton’s estimate as “nonsense” and added that the capacity for 2024 was less than half a million rounds. “Possibly 400,000, maybe even a little less.”
Regarding the future, von der Leyen has requested Member States to nominate a man or a woman each for the Commission unless an incumbent Commissioner remained in post.
With France sticking behind Breton, it does not need to look for anyone else.
It is important to note, though, that Breton does not enjoy the best of relations with von der Leyen.
When Brussels tried to appoint US anti-trust expert Fiona Scott Morton as the EU’s top competition economist, it was Breton who led the French charge against her, torpedoing any chances for Scott Morton getting the job.
In March, Breton publicly questioned the support for von der Leyen from her own party.
It led to rumours of him eyeing the job of EC President for himself.
Malgré ses qualités, Ursula von der Leyen mise en minorité par son propre parti.
La vraie question désormais:
“Est-il possible de (re)confier la gestion de l’Europe au PPE pour 5 ans de plus, soit 25 ans d’affilée?”
Le PPE lui-même ne semble pas croire en sa candidate. https://t.co/fmlqOqm7j0
— Thierry Breton (@ThierryBreton) March 7, 2024
France’s decision to retain Breton as Commissioner has ignited significant controversy, largely due to its timing.
The choice was made by Macron’s administration, which is currently in a weakened political position.
The president’s coalition suffered a major setback in the recent national elections, losing its majority in the National Assembly. This diminished mandate has led many to question the legitimacy of such a consequential decision regarding Breton.
“While France is still without a government and ‘Macronie’ is no more, Emmanuel Macron once again proposes Thierry Breton, father of censorship for the EU [DSA] as European Commissioner,” French National Rally MEP Virginie Joron wrote on X.
“Another sign of the denial of democracy,” she added
Before the elections, her party leader, Marine Le Pen, had already noted: “It is the prerogative of the Prime Minister to appoint the European Commissioner, not that of the President of the Republic.”
Gabriel Attal, the now-outgoing PM of France, resigned two weeks ago and his future replacement in a government with new partners is as yet undetermined.
