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August 17, 2024 - 1:00pm
Despite Thierry Breton’s grand vision of the EU as a regulatory empire capable of reining in Silicon Valley, his actual achievements tell a different story. In fact, much of Breton’s recent (and entirely symbolic) actions against Elon Musk — from which the European Commission has distanced itself — are largely for political purposes.
Breton has made no secret of the fact that his ambition is to head the European Commission, which has set him on a collision course with Ursula Von der Leyen. Indeed, his opposition to the latter’s candidate for the post overseeing small and medium-sized business policy was so vehement that the candidate himself resigned, claiming in an interview that Breton’s boycott would not allow him to properly perform his duties.
Elsewhere, Breton has tried to take credit where there is none to give. For example, the European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services claims that, alongside Macron and Charles Michel, he has built European strategic autonomy. He takes pride in imposing unanimous sanctions on Russia, although their effectiveness appears questionable given the economic resilience of Putin’s regime. He also touts re-industrialisation efforts, but as one pro-EU analyst noted, “the EU lacks the analytical capacity and political will to formulate meaningful industrial policy priorities; it does not have the regulatory tools to support selected industries; and it lacks the financial power to leverage the scale of the European market and achieve its goals without undermining fair competition”.
Energy independence is another area where success remains largely fictional. Across the continent, there is virtually no coordination. Consider, for instance, Germany’s energy shield protecting domestic companies from high costs, which sparked protests in France, or Berlin’s resistance to nuclear energy. Furthermore, the push for renewables is heavily reliant on Chinese supply chains.
In the realm of defence, where Breton claims strategic autonomy should fully manifest, the principle of “European preference” appears non-existent: member states continue to purchase weapons from the Americans, Israelis, or South Koreans. Joint defence projects, such as the European tank or fighter jet, struggle to take off, with losses only escalating. The European Defence Fund, touted as a significant achievement to support Ukraine, means little more than “creative accounting” — a relabeling of existing contributions.
Moreover, Breton’s political capital is further eroded by the dire situation of the company he once led as CEO. Atos, an IT firm that provides among others critical software for the French nuclear deterrent, is in a deplorable state and is set to be sold to a Czech billionaire. According to French media, poorly thought-out acquisitions and a lack of vision on Breton’s part — he reportedly didn’t believe cloud technology had a future — have contributed to the company’s downfall.
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SubscribeThis piece highlighting the back story of Breton – for those of us with better things to do than keep track of such things – is welcome. Whilst it’s clear the author is not an admirer of his subject, if anyone knows of reasons why the author is incorrect, they should come forward.
Breton’s recent attempt to block the Trump interview on X brought him into a wider spotlight. As it turned out, the interview wasn’t exactly something anyone needed to be ‘protected’ from – rather the opposite; it was a way for Trump’s views to be aired which in the end did him few favours, having seemingly lost his mojo. (Has the assassination attempt spooked him?)
The smugness with which Breton comes across is entirely typical of the EU elitist mentality. They’re all corrupt, self-serving and think they have intellectual heft when they’re simply the pseudo-intellectual left.
Switched the Trump interview off after an hour. For people to have gone ape over it is absurd, it was just Trump rambling and steamrollering Musk, who couldn’t get a word in edgeways.
I broadly agree with your criticism of many EU institutions and indeed it’s overall ideology. (although I’m not sure it can even claim to this). However, unless you have evidence to support this, suggesting that ALL its officials are corrupt is little more than a piece of anti-EU rhetorical grandstanding, designed to show what “side” you’re on, while having absolutely no persuasive influence anybody who might support the EU with reservations. (The latter camp might well include almost the entire British establishment since 1975: the UK certainly didn’t take long to start trying to unpick certain aspects of the agreement on which it joined).
“Corruption” has a specific meaning. It doesn’t just mean well paid bureaucrats with good pensions etc, who don’t understand entrepreneurial ism and business, and who are perhaps not being the most productive people in the world in objective terms.
At least the US has some choice as to whom it wants to have their hand on the tiller even if the two individuals on offer have serious defects. In Europe we will have no choice as to whether this preening authoritarian is promoted to the Presidency or not.
Anyone who wants to be a politician should probably be dissuaded. Anyone who wants to be a top politician…
Nice hatchet job! Another of M. Breton’s contributions to belles lettres is the novel ‘ The Pentecost Project’. It has a Vatican conspiracy plot that would make Dan Brown blush. M. Breton seems to inhabit a fictional world.
Breton is one of those political figures in France who has been around for ages. I dont know what he is actually good at besides getting appointed to things. I dont believe he has won an election in decades. Yet an arrogant egomaniac in spite of lack of accomplishments?
Another piece of evidence that those who aspire to political roles and power should, by virtue of that desire, be automatically prevented from fulfilling their ambitions.
I’d actually rather see him debate E Musk than Trump and Harris roll out their predigested positions.
I used to be involved in IT projects with French companies including ATOS.
Completely useless.
I love French wine, food, skiing, culture..
Breton is a weapons-grade t****r.