Macron names von der Leyen’s foe Thierry Breton for second term as EU commissioner

France’s President Emmanuel Macron proposed incumbent EU Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton for a second five-year term in a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, seen by Euractiv.

The French president may have called for a ‘political truce’ at home during the Paris Olympic Games, but in the background, key political decisions continue to be taken – not least of which is France’s pick for EU commissioner.

Macron had already spoken in favour of Breton on the sidelines of a European Council in late June so it was hardly surprising when he announced in a letter sent last Thursday (25 July) he would support the commissioner for a second term in office.

In the letter, Macron underlined Breton’s “qualities” and “experience”, “particularly during the previous [2019-2024] term”.

Enough, the letter said, to speak to “his general competence and his European engagement, which will enable him to continue to uphold in an independent way” his future Commission responsibilities.

It is not yet known which portfolio Breton could get as most EU leaders are battling to secure the largest and most important sector for their own commissioners.

Breton made a name for himself in Brussels by spearheading the drafting and adoption of two landmark pieces of digital legislation, the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA).

He also laid the foundations for a joint European defence industry, looking to coordinate the production and delivery of European ammunition to Ukraine and make Macron’s ‘strategic autonomy’ concept for Europe a reality.

For several months now, Breton has also been pushing for a €100 billion ‘Ukraine’ fund, financed in part by a new round of EU debt.

Breton’s official nomination put an end to rumours that Bruno Le Maire, France’s minister for economy and finance for the past seven years, could be in the running for the post.

Sworn enemies

Breton’s appointment is all the more noteworthy given that he is Ursula von der Leyen’s sworn enemy, of sorts.

Last summer, he weighed in with all his might against the appointment of Fiona Scott Morton, a protégé of von der Leyen’s, to the post of the EU competition chief economist – until she eventually dropped out of the race.

In March, the Frenchman also questioned Von der Leyen’s credentials and credibility as she managed to secure the support of her political family, the EPP, for a second term with only a very slim majority.

“Despite her qualities, Ursula von der Leyen [is] being outvoted by her own party. The real question now is: ‘Is it possible to (re)entrust the management of Europe to the EPP for another 5 years, i.e. 25 years in a row?’” he wrote on X, which did little to thaw his relationship with his Commission boss.

The 69-year-old Breton, who was minister in charge of the economy and finances from 2005 to 2007, as well as the CEO of French IT mogul Atos, is now more likely than ever to extend his Brussels stay for five more years, barring an explicit ‘no’ from von der Leyen.

The European Commission’s executive is made up of one commissioner per member state. In a letter to EU capitals, von der Leyen asked for the names of the candidates to be sent to her by 30 August.

A new rule makes it compulsory for each country to nominate both a man and a woman, except where the candidate is an incumbent commissioner.

Once the appointments have been made, each prospective commissioner will be subjected to a public hearing in the European Parliament, after which MEPs will vote on the entire College of Commissioners.

[Edited by Zoran Radosavljevic]

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