Stéphane Séjourné’s nomination brings key Macron ally to European Commission

Stéphane Séjourné, one of President Emmanuel Macron’s closest confidants, was nominated as France's EU Commissioner on Monday (16 September), signalling that the French president remains in control of EU affairs amid political instability at home.

“The President of the Republic, in agreement with the Prime Minister, proposed Mr. Stéphane Séjourné, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, as European Commissioner for the next term,” an Elysée press release reads.

Séjourné used to preside over the liberal Renew Europe group in the European Parliament, where Macron's troops also sit.

Séjourné’s name was announced just hours after Thierry Breton suddenly announced he would resign from his commissioner post over a row with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Euractiv understands back and forth negotiations took place throughout the summer between Emmanuel Macron and von der Leyen, to agree on the contours of a portfolio, and an Executive Vice President (EVP) post.

At some point, it became evident Breton could no longer be the man of choice, after he publicly criticised von der Leyen on several occasions.

“You asked France to withdraw my name – for personal reasons that in no instance you have discussed directly with me – and offered, as a political trade-off, an allegedly more influential portfolio for France in the future College,” Breton explained in his resignation letter to von der Leyen, published on X.

Séjourné "meets all the required criteria", and "his commitment to Europe will enable him to fully support this sovereignty agenda," the French presidential office added.

Higher French position

His nomination highlights Macron’s willingness to tighten his grip on what goes on within the College of Commissioners.

Séjourné first entered Macron’s campaign team in 2016, and the two are said to be particularly close. The 39-year-old is also Secretary General of Macron’s Renaissance party.

In many ways, he is seen by many to be the perfect man to defend Macron’s demands and reforms, building on the vision for Europe outlined in the president’s Sorbonne speech last April - and reinforce the Renew group's influence within the Commission's upper echelons.

The move is also a clear signal that EU affairs remain within Emmanuel Macron's purview, amid an unstable political situation at home and the absence of any functioning government for over 70 days now.

As a former head of the Renaissance delegation in the European Parliament and president of the Renew Europe group of MEPs, Séjourné is also no stranger to Brussels.

His tenure as Foreign Affairs minister, a post he has held for nine months, was marked by the onus he had put on strenghtening bonds with key European partners, not least of which Weimar triangle members Germany and Poland.

Paris hopes to get a broad portfolio that would include the internal market and industry - similar to Breton's portfolio - but also with a focus on research and development, monetary policy, economy, financial services and the capital markets union.

However, this would not include direct oversight of defence industrial policy, likely to be in the hands of a separate dedicated commissioner.

Questions over experience

Séjourné's appointment is not to everyone’s taste, however, and criticism is mounting that he lacks the expertise and political gravitas to take on such a large portfolio.

Compared to Breton, who was formerly CEO of tech giant Atos and Economy and Finance minister, Séjourné “doesn’t have the business experience” to impose himself on key files and confront the likes of X CEO Elon Musk, Andreas Schwab, EPP rapporteur on the Digital Markets Act (DMA) file, told Euractiv.

Séjourné is also said to speak rather poor English.

“Breton’s departure is scandalous,” a Renew MEP, who was granted anonymity to speak freely, told Euractiv. “He is nowhere near as good as Breton when it comes experience and international aura”.

Concerns were also raised on the other side of the political aisle.

“The decisions made today will weaken [the] EU as [an] industrial base and strong market place. I did not always agree with Thierry Breton but he is a strong advocate for EU economy and its transition. I don’t see how this gap will be filled,” German Greens MEP and AI Act shadow rapporteur Sergey Lagodinsky posted on X.

Séjourné’s appointment again ignores the request von der Leyen had made to all member states to present both a female and male nominee.

Macron's decision to nominate a man is “a missed opportunity to show commitment to gender equality,” Greens MEP Kim van Sparrentak told Euractiv.

Théophane Hartmann and Paul Messad contributed to reporting.

[Edited by Aurélie Pugnet/Owen Morgan]