French ministers urge EU Vestager to reconsider choosing the US for the antitrust post

Authors: Foo Yun Chee and Michel Rose

BRUSSELS/PARIS (Reuters) – France’s foreign minister and government minister called the European Union’s antitrust chief, Margrethe Vestager, to ask her to reconsider nominating the U.S. economist and former antitrust official to a senior European Commission position overseeing Big Tech.

Vestager announced on Tuesday the hiring of Fiona Scott Morton, former chief economist of the U.S. Department of Justice under former President Barack Obama.

Scott Morton will assume his position on September 1, when current Chief Economist Pierre Regibeau retires. Her appointment was met with criticism even before it was announced, with many citing a potential conflict of interest arising from her consulting work at Charles River Associates, a consulting firm that advises many tech giants.

French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said she was surprised by the nomination.

“Digital regulation is a key issue for France and Europe. This nomination deserves reconsideration by the @EU_Commission,” she said in a tweet.

The same call was issued by French government minister Jean-Noel Barrot.

“At a time when Europe is introducing the most ambitious digital regulation in the world, the recent appointment of DG Competition’s Chief Economist is not without legitimate questions,” he said in a tweet. “I encourage @EU_Commission to reconsider its choice.”

The commission provided no immediate comment.

(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Editing by Conor Humphries)