World

France's EU pick narrowly survives MEP vetting

November 12, 2019
Thierry Breton
Thierry Breton

BRUSSELS — France narrowly missed a repeat humiliation at the European Parliament on Tuesday when its second choice to join the EU commission was approved by just one vote over his financial declaration.

Thierry Breton, until recently one of France's most influential CEOs, was the second choice by Paris to join the EU's executive arm after former MEP Sylvie Goulard was rejected by parliament last month over her personal finances.

The parliament's legal affairs committee was tasked to pore over Breton's financial disclosure, as well as new nominees from Romania and Hungary who also replaced rejected first picks.

All three candidates passed the hurdle on Wednesday, but Breton, who is also a former French finance minister, secured just 12 votes in his favor, with 11 against.

"The EPP considered that there was no conflict of interest," said French MEP Geoffroy Didier, who sat on the committee for the right-of-center European's People Party.

The hiccup over candidates has delayed the launch of the new European Commission that is to be headed by Germany's Ursula von der Leyen — a former defense minister and close ally of Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Von der Leyen's commission was supposed to take office on Nov. 1, but still awaits parliament's approval.

That has delayed work at one of the most powerful regulatory arms in the world with vast powers over trade, technology and anti-trust.

Breton's knife-edge win came despite demands by MEPs from the social-democrats, greens and the far-left for more detailed answers on his earnings as head of Atos, a French tech giant.

They also expressed concern over the vast portfolio Breton is set to inherit: a jumbo commission steering policy on the internal market, defense, industry and space.

Some MEPS were worried that many of these responsibilities overlap directly with Breton's job at Atos, which he left last month after selling tens of millions of euros in company shares, according to official data.

"I'm completely disgusted. All this is a blatant hypocrisy," said far left MEP Manon Aubry, who was one of the leading forces over the demise of France's previous nominee Goulard.

With the green light, the candidates will now face individual hearings by MEPs on Thursday, with Breton likely to face a particularly tough grilling.

Oliver Varhelyi, Hungary's envoy to the EU and a close lieutenant to Prime Minister Viktor Orban, is the pick to take the highly sensitive enlargement portfolio.

Adina Valean of Romania is chosen to take on transport. — AFP


November 12, 2019
30 views
HIGHLIGHTS
World
hour ago

South Africa's ex-president Zuma involved in car crash

World
3 hours ago

KFC Nigeria sorry after wheelchair user refused service at Lagos airport

World
3 hours ago

India gangster-politician dies after cardiac arrest