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Former French European Commissioner Thierry Breton shared his concerns about France's loss of influence within the EU in an interview with Le Monde on Sunday, criticising Germany's leading role.
According to Thierry Breton, France's voice at the EU level is now weaker, and the decisions of the EU executive are increasingly influenced by Germany and the EPP group.
“This is not the Commission I knew. Today, I fear that the Community executive is too much at the service of Germany and the European People's Party,” he said.
Breton resigned as European commissioner on 16 September. Following this announcement, French President Emmanuel Macron appointed Stéphane Séjourné to take over from Breton in the team of EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for her second term.
“The Heads of State and Government have given Germany the presidency of the Commission for ten years. Through the predominance of the EPP, the European Parliament has never been far removed from German politics. We need to ensure that the Commission plays its balancing role and that there is no drift”, he added.
Breton also highlighted the need for France to regain a strong position in European discussions. According to him, French interests are no longer “sufficiently taken into account”.
“France's voice carries less weight in Europe, and that's a regrettable fact,” he pointed out. “As a country, we have lost ground in areas that should be at the heart of our priorities: digital sovereignty, the energy transition and defence.”
“France must regain its place as a leader, particularly in negotiations on energy transition and digital policy. Without that, we will be marginalised,” he stressed.
Finally, Breton, who has long worked for a more sovereign Europe in terms of digital technology and industry, is critical of the direction taken by the new Commission, particularly in these areas.
“I have always defended a sovereign and independent Europe, but I fear that this vision is no longer at the heart of the new team's priorities,” he warned.
