In Brussels, the headquarters of the European Commission at the intersection of Rue de la Loi and Boulevard Charlemagne was built on the ruins of a former girls’ boarding school run by the canonesses of Saint Augustine. But the temperance of the Roman philosopher has long since deserted the premises. In the Berlaymont citadel, destinies are made and unmade faster than the institution reforms itself. Thierry Breton, the outgoing French Commissioner for the Internal Market, has just had a bitter experience of this. While just a week ago, the former head of Atos was already settling into the role of Executive Vice-President of the Commission for his second term in Brussels, he is now packing his bags.
This Monday, September 16, in a letter addressed to the President of the Commission and published on the social network X, Thierry Breton announced his resignation, with immediate effect. Above all, he did not mince his words, very clearly accusing Ursula von der Leyen of being behind this choice. Even going so far as to describe her governance as “questionable”. A few hours later, the Elysée Palace proposed a new name to von der Leyen: Stéphane Séjourné, resigning Minister of Foreign Affairs and former MEP.
“It’s Dallas in Brussels,” observes a French MEP. What happened in a week? “Curiously and with a bit of a delay, the anti-Breton machine got going and previously divergent interests aligned,” says another senior European official. At the heart of the affair is the size of the portfolio that Emmanuel Macron wants to see assigned to France. For years, and particularly since the war in Ukraine, the French president has made the strategic autonomy of the Continent the pillar of his European policy. A vision that the representative of France in the College of Commissioners must embody.
A vast scope that encompasses both the regulation of artificial intelligence or that of large digital platforms, as well as industrial reconquest in strategic sectors such as AI, biotechs, electric batteries, rare metals or the consolidation of a European defense industry. Already, five years ago, the extent of the portfolio granted to France had surprised some Member States. But this time, the weight given to the future French Commissioner has seriously raised eyebrows in some capitals, notably Rome, which is also requesting a position of executive vice-president.
The vision and influence of France first
The beginning of an “bronca” that the President of the Commission skillfully used to get rid of an enemy. Between her and Thierry Breton, relations have over the years turned into trench warfare. In the spring, she had already threatened the Elysée with vetoing a possible second term for Breton and Emmanuel Macron had almost resolved not to re-propose the former head of Atos as a future French commissioner. But the dissolution of June 9, and the political fuss that followed, had prompted the French president to play the continuity card.
For von der Leyen, the annoyance of certain chancelleries in recent days and the hostility of certain heavyweights of the European Parliament towards Breton would have convinced her to get back on the front foot. With a curious bargaining chip at stake: Yes for a “super-portfolio” for France, but no for Thierry Breton. Emmanuel Macron, who is still trying to weigh in on the European scene, would have decided: France’s vision and influence first. A win-win “deal” for the tenant of the Elysée and the President of the Commission. Especially since behind the scenes, in the European Parliament, part of the left, but also heavyweights of the right of the EPP, were sharpening their weapons against Breton in preparation for his hearing, pointing out the former boss’s responsibilities in the debacle of the giant Atos.
It remains to be seen whether the French president made the right choice. “The influence of a commissioner is not limited to a high-sounding title,” stresses a source close to the Commission. During the previous term, Margrethe Vestager, crowned by her fight against the Gafa, had certainly been propelled to vice-president of the Commission, but she had been quickly eclipsed, notably by Breton. “Political weight counts, but so do skills. However, on these industrial and digital subjects, Stéphane Séjourné is rather a novice,” attacks a good connoisseur of the mysteries of Brussels.
In his role as European Commissioner, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs will have the difficult task of putting a good part of the Draghi report into practice. And in particular, convincing his partners in the College of the opportunity to launch a new major European loan. It is on the basis of this result that we will judge the influence or otherwise of France, and of its new Commissioner.
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