American economist Fiona Scott Morton has decided not to take an advisory job at the European Commission, offered by EU competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager. Her decision comes after French President Emmanuel Macron expressed doubts about hiring an American for the role.
Yale University professor and technology expert Fiona Scott Morton was hired as chief economist by EU competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager to advise on antitrust strategy.
But her appointment was later criticized by French politicians as well as some EU lawmakers from the right and left. On Tuesday, Macron weighed in.
This was followed by the intervention of five of Vestager’s colleagues on the commission, who broke ranks to ask EU chief Ursula von der Leyen to reconsider the appointment.
Macron said the EU executive’s hiring of an American had raised “many questions” – noting that neither the United States nor China would employ a foreigner in such a job.
(AFP)
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