The Limited Times

Now you can see non-English news...

EU Commission: criticism of Emmanuel Macron's new candidate Thierry Breton

2019-11-08T18:46:49.880Z


Ursula von der Leyen wants to start soon as head of the EU Commission, but important designated commissioners still have to pass hearings. SPIEGEL again criticizes French candidate Thierry Breton.



French President Emmanuel Macron threatens the European Parliament with his second proposal for the post of French EU Commissioner anger. After rejecting Sylvie Goulard as Internal Market Commissioner, the parliamentarians nominated Thierry Breton, former CEO of French IT company Atos.

More in the SPIEGEL

Issue 46/2019

When saving makes you poor

The zero interest eats up the assets of the Germans. What you have to do now for your money

Digital Edition | Printed issues | Apps | SUBSCRIPTION

"To my knowledge, it is the first time that a high-level business leader should move directly to the post of EU Commissioner," said Manon Aubry, co-chair of the Left and Nordic Greens, SPIEGEL. The number of potential conflicts of interest is correspondingly high.

Breton should be responsible for a strong domestic market. Above all, criticism is due to the fact that its tasks also include the digital single market. For example, Breton aims to drive the development of European high-performance computers; an important manufacturer of these devices is just Atos.

Possible conflicts of interest

In the European Parliament, the nomination of Breton is certainly seen as a sign that Macron does not want to relinquish after leaving for Goulard. Instead, he again presents a candidate from whom he hopes above all the implementation of French interests.

Breton will also be responsible for European industrial policy in the future. Most recently, Breton held numerous talks with specialist politicians in parliament, where he left a professional impression.

On the other hand, Aubry receives support from the Deputy Chief of the Judiciary Committee, Sergey Lagodinsky of the Greens. At Breton, the question arises, "from when experience and networking become a mortgage," said the parliamentarian to the SPIEGEL.

Breton will have to answer MEPs' questions next Thursday, and the Legal Affairs Committee will examine his income statement for potential conflicts of interest. To avoid difficulties, Breton last sold its stake in Atos in the amount of several million euros.

This topic comes from the new SPIEGEL magazine - available at the kiosk from Saturday morning and every Friday at SPIEGEL + and in the digital magazine edition.

What is in the new SPIEGEL and what stories you find at SPIEGEL +, you will also learn in our free policy newsletter DIE LAGE, which appears six times a week - compact, analytical, opinionated, written by the political minds of the editorial staff.

Source: spiegel

All news articles on 2019-11-08

You may like

Trends 24h

News/Politics 2024-03-28T06:04:53.137Z

Latest

© Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.
The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.