Influential EU Commissioner Breton Resigns Suddenly

Photo: Thierry Breton

The French member of the European Commission responsible for the EU internal market, Thierry Breton, announced his resignation on Monday, September 16. He published a letter he sent to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, claiming that she had asked the French authorities not to nominate Breton to the new European Commission.

As France Presse notes, Breton's reappointment was considered a foregone conclusion. However, a letter from the former European Commissioner shows that at the last minute before the announcement of the new composition of the EU's highest executive body, von der Leyen asked the French authorities to submit a different candidate. At the same time, Paris was allegedly promised that the French representative would receive an important portfolio in the new composition of the commission. Breton said that he could not remain in office under such conditions, and called the latest events “another example of questionable leadership.”

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The agency that Breton headed, among other things, was responsible for the supply and production of COVID-19 vaccines in the EU, as well as the military industry. Breton is also known as a hardliner regarding tech giants and social media companies. He insisted that they comply with European legislation, threatening to block, in particular, the X social network, owned by Elon Musk.

What portfolio France will now receive in the new European Commission and who will represent it is not yet clear.

Von der Leyen, representing the largest faction in the European Parliament – the European People's Party – was elected as head of the European Commission for a second five-year term. The candidates for the new commission are expected to be announced tomorrow. It was reported that the EU foreign policy department should be headed by Estonian Kaja Kallas instead of Josep Borrell.

Prepared by: Sergey Daga