The German CDU MEP, Markus Pieper, whose appointment as “EU envoy for SMEs” caused criticism in part of the European Commission and in the European Parliament for alleged partisanship of the head of the Executive, Ursula von der Leyen, announced this Monday that he has decided “not to assume” his position that began this April 16.
“The president respects and regrets Markus Pieper’s decision not to take up his position as envoy for SMEs on April 16, as planned,” European Commission chief spokesperson Eric Mamer said late on Monday in a statement.
The decision to elect Pieper for the position had garnered multiple criticisms for her alleged partiality and opacity in the face of candidates with better resumes and for which the president of the Commission was accused of partisanship. To the point that the European People’s Party (EPP) described the Piepergate case as a “crude political campaign” and, in turn, hopes that it does not reduce support for Von der Leyen, a candidate to serve a second term at the head of the European Comission.
“Markus Pieper is a renowned SME expert and has won a multi-stage selection process,” said the spokesperson for the Community Executive, defending that “the autonomy of each EU institution must be respected when appointing its senior officials.” officials”.
For this reason, Von der Leyen “has decided to suspend the reopening of the selection procedures for the position of SME envoy until after the European elections” to be held from June 6 to 9, Mamer said.
The European Parliament last Thursday urged the European Commission to rescind Pieper’s appointment as EU envoy for SMEs and launch a truly “transparent and open” selection process.
In addition, four European commissioners – three social democrats and one liberal – criticized the appointment earlier this month: the high representative of the European Union for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell; the European Commissioner for Employment and social democratic candidate to preside over the European Commission, Nicolas Schmit; the Commissioner for Economic Affairs, Paolo Gentiloni, and the Commissioner for the Internal Market, Thierry Breton, with whom Pieper should have worked.
The European Commission spokesperson defended at all times the cleanliness of the selection process and assured that it has been carried out in full respect of the rules for this type of appointments, which are usually carried out in a non-public manner.
