France attacks choice of prominent US economist for EU job

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France has urged the European Commission’s antitrust regulator to reconsider the nomination of a former US Justice Department economist who once worked as an adviser to tech giants Apple and Amazon to a leading position.

EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager on Tuesday announced the choice of former Obama administration official and Yale University professor Fiona Scott Morton as the new chief economist at the Directorate General for Competition.

Late Thursday, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna put out a flurry of coordinated tweets Express There was “surprise” at the proposed appointment, while Jean-Noël Barrot, junior minister for digital affairs, said, questioned The move comes “at a time when Europe is launching the most ambitious digital regulation in the world”.

“Digital regulation is a major issue for France and Europe”, Colonna said, urging the commission to “rethink” his nomination.

The job is influential as the individual advises the Competition Commissioner on a wide range of economic policies including state aid and mergers and acquisitions. Scott Morton, an American citizen, will be the first non-European to be appointed to the role. It is going to start on 1st September.

The nomination coincides with Brussels strengthening its legal arsenal to oversee the tech giants with a series of new laws and enforcement actions. Earlier this year Vestager threatened to break up Google’s business in the EU for alleged anti-competitive behaviour. Apple, Microsoft and Meta are also under scrutiny.

Scott Morton is expected to oversee market analysis on antitrust and cartel matters and to consider broader competition policy.

She will also contribute to discussions on industrial policy as some member states such as France are pressing the commission to further loosen state aid rules to help them compete with the US, where companies in green technologies and semiconductors are based. are being offered subsidies on a large scale.

During the presidency of Emmanuel Macron, France has pressed Europe to develop its “strategic autonomy”, using the term to mean the region’s dependence on outside powers such as the US or China for its own defense or economic needs. Should not be dependent.

The stance partly explains Paris’ reticence about an American being parachuted into a key EU post and concern over Scott Morton’s former consulting work for tech companies, a French official said. The official said he plans to request more transparency on the matter.

France’s concerns were reiterated on Friday by the leaders of the four major political groups in the European Parliament, who wrote a letter to Vestager asking him to “reverse the decision”. He argued that a non-European should not be considered for “such a high ranking and strategic position” and highlighted the “potential conflict of interest”.

In announcing Scott Morton’s nomination, the commission praised his “distinguished academic background and decades of experience in economic analysis and competition policy” and said he would be “well-positioned to advise on economic aspects relating to policy development and enforcement of competition rules”. Very suitable for.” in the European Union”

Benjamin Haddad, a French lawmaker from Macron’s party, asked: “Wasn’t there a European citizen who had the necessary skills?”

The controversy comes at an odd time for Vestager, who has announced his candidacy for the presidency of the European Investment Bank in the autumn – a decision that has been taken by national capitals. Paris is leaning towards supporting a Spanish candidate for the post.

Scott Morton declined to comment Friday. The European Commission did not immediately respond to a request for comment.