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MEPs gave Thursday the green light to Frenchman Thierry Breton to become European Commissioner for the single market and digital, despite the risk of conflicts of interest raised by certain political groups. This approval comes after the failure suffered by France with the candidacy of Sylvie Goulard.
The choice of the former CEO of Atos has been approved by the EPP (right), the liberals of Renew, the Socialist and Democratic group and the curators of ECR. The radical left, the ecologists and the extreme right, minority, had asked them for additional clarifications to be asked in writing.
" I can not wait to get down to work to implement the vision I developed in front of the European Parliament, " Mr Breton told AFP. The French Presidency hailed " very good news ".
During his hearing, whoever will become the first big boss in the history of the European Commissioner EU, has endeavored to ease the fears of MEPs.
Faced with the risks of conflicts of interest, " there is only one solution, to be radical. I say radical, "promised the former Minister of Economy (2005-2007), whose broad economic portfolio includes several sectors directly related to its former business.
Mr Breton said he intended to recuse himself on matters that would directly concern Atos, for example "contracts" with the EU.
But more broadly, he has ruled out issues of Atos' evolving sectors, such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and supercomputers.
" It would be an aberration, " he said, repeating several times that he would be " commissioner for the entire portfolio. "
" Maybe you will not like it. Well, you will not vote "in my favor, he told Socialist Timo Wölken.
" Your appointment is a mix of genres that creates confusion, " said MEP Marie Toussaint, pointing out that there is a " perfect overlap " between Atos' activities and its Commissioner's portfolio.
The Radical Left MP (GUE), Manuel Bompard, felt that Mr Breton was unable to guarantee that his " past activities will not affect (on his) future activities ".
" There are a number of flows between the company I headed " and this position at the Commission, " not huge of the rest, " acknowledged Mr. Breton. But " the regulation has perfectly planned, " he added, citing the code of conduct of European commissioners.
He reminded MEPs that he had already sold all his shares - for an amount of 45 million euros, according to the documents of the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) - and resigned the mandates he exercised in various boards of directors.
" I no longer have any interest in the companies I managed. Zero. Zero! He insisted
The Frenchman was generally less attacked on the issue of conflicts of interest than the first choice of Emmanuel Macron for the Commission, Sylvie Goulard, dismissed at the beginning of October for ethical reasons.
" Fear of technologies "
MEPs denounced the fact that Mrs Goulard appeared before them to become a commissioner when she had resigned from the French government because of the case of the supposedly fictitious jobs of her former party, the Modem.
In addition to Mr. Breton, Romanian Commissioner Adina Valean, also auditioned Thursday, has been approved by Transport. On the other hand, Hungarian Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi will have to answer additional questions before taking over the portfolio of Enlargement.
These hearings were the last hurdles for the next Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, who is struggling to set up her team.
The German now seems in a good position to fulfill the goal of taking office, already delayed by one month, December 1.
Thierry Breton postulates for a very large portfolio including industrial policy, the internal market, digital, defense and space.
On the merits, he ruled Thursday " urgent " to " prepare tomorrow's growth by investing " in the technologies of the future, such as 5G, 6G, artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles and electric batteries. He said he understood " the fear of technologies regarding their social impact " and promised to " never leave anyone on the side of the road ".
(with AFP)