The EU Commission reports that the President regrets Markus Pieper's decision not to take up his post as SME Envoy on 16 April 2024 as planned. The EU Envoy is to work with business organisations to lobby the Commission for the special concerns and needs of SMEs, in particular to reduce the bureaucratic burden on our companies (VERE e.V. reported).
According to Handelsblatt, four Commissioners, including Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton, sharply criticised the appointment of Markus Pieper. The European Parliament had called for a new selection procedure. As the SME Envoy also reports to the Internal Market Commissioner in addition to the Commission President, the relationship between the SME Envoy and the Internal Market Commissioner would have been strained from the outset.
According to Bild, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and Parliament President Roberta Metsola are seen as possible alternatives.
"The President has therefore decided to suspend the reopening of the selection procedures for the position of SME Envoy until after the European elections.", reads the Commission's succinct statement. VERE will keep you informed.
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