As Thierry Breton leaves the European stage, Stéphane Séjourné is preparing to take on a broader and more complex portfolio, encompassing Prosperity and Industrial Strategy, as the Executive Vice-President of the next Commission. But what is the legacy of Thierry Breton on the strategic files he managed from 2019 to 2024? And what specific challenges await Séjourné, especially in the context of the growing trade and technological rivalries with the United States and China?
Thierry Breton’s influence (2019-2024)
One of the leading figures of the previous presidency, Thierry Breton was active on numerous fronts, from the single market to defense, including space. Known for his highly “French” style, Breton left a mark on the von der Leyen Commission with an ambitious industrial policy focused on technological sovereignty and European competitiveness. With the Chips Act, the EU committed to increasing its global semiconductor market share from 10% to 20% by 2030. Breton advocated for independence from Asian and American chip imports, stressing the importance of building production facilities in Europe. This project aims to reduce Europe’s dependence, underscored during the global chip shortage, which hit the automotive and electronics industries hard in Europe during the past years.
Breton also contributed to the adoption of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and the Digital Services Act (DSA), which impose strict regulations on major digital platforms such as Google, Amazon, and Facebook. These regulations aim to limit anti-competitive practices, protect European users’ data, and counter American dominance in the digital realm. This initiative was seen as a direct response to the business practices of American tech giants and led to tensions with the United States.
Another example of achievement under the previous commission, the Commission strengthened the EU’s efforts to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The European Green Deal includes the Net Zero Industry Act, promoting investments in green technologies and decarbonization infrastructures. Breton also worked on integrating stricter emission standards for industry and automotive sectors, in line with the Paris Climate Agreement. In response to the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act, which favors American green industries, he advocated for stronger support for European companies, asserting that the EU should be able to compete in clean technologies without suffering from market distortions.
Stéphane Séjourné for Vice-President
Thierry Breton’s touch had a significant impact on the von der Leyen Commission with initiatives to strengthen Europe’s industrial and technological sovereignty. However, despite his successes on various files, his direct and often confrontational leadership style generated notable tensions within the Commission, particularly with Ursula von der Leyen. Tensions reached a critical point with the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). He advocated for a similar EU response, calling for comparable policies to support European companies. His public interventions and criticisms of von der Leyen’s approach, which he viewed as passive and too conciliatory towards the U.S., deepened the rift between the two leaders leading to his resignation just before the announcement of the new college.
Emmanuel Macron has proposed his resigning Minister of Foreign Affairs as the European Commissioner “focused on issues of industrial sovereignty, technological sovereignty, and European competitiveness,” announced the Élysée. Stéphane Séjourné, born on March 26, 1985 was initially part of the Socialist Party and a supporter of Dominique Strauss-Kahn, before later becoming an advisor to Emmanuel Macron at the Ministry of Economy. He played a key role in founding En Marche! and managed Macron’s 2017 presidential campaign. Known for his close relationship with Macron, Séjourné has been influential in promoting centrist, pro-European policies within the EU and France. Stéphane Séjourné was “the president of the Renew group […] commitment to Europe will enable him to fully advance this sovereignty agenda,” the presidency added. Séjourné, who is not particularly known for his expertise in economic and financial matters, has sparked sharp criticism from the left and the far-right. MEP Manon Aubry criticized on X, “Macron is sending his clone to the Commission without consulting anyone and disregarding the vote of the French people”.
Challenges for Séjourné and the DG GROW
After his audition in november, Séjourné will oversee the DG GROW, as well as initiatives related to decarbonized industry through the Clean Industrial Deal. This plan aims to accelerate the development of green technologies and attract investments in sectors like renewable energy and batteries. It also includes managing the European Competitiveness Fund, intended to finance innovation in advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and clean energy to compete with American and Chinese initiatives. Séjourné’s arrival coincides with increasing global challenges for the EU. Trade tensions with the United States and technological competition with China dominate Europe’s industrial and strategic agenda. China represents a significant challenge for the EU due to its technological advancements in areas such as 5G, electric vehicles, and solar panels. Séjourné will need to implement regulatory barriers to protect European companies from unfair competition. Séjourné also inherits sensitive issues related to transatlantic relations. While the Inflation Reduction Act favors American industry, the EU must respond to avoid an industrial investment drain to the United States. Séjourné might adopt a more diplomatic approach than Breton, while strengthening subsidies to retain strategic industries in Europe. His success will depend on his ability to balance these relationships without compromising EU competitiveness.
Finally, the new structure of the European Commission signals a significant reduction in France’s influence over the 2024-2029 political agenda. While France has secured an executive vice-presidency focused on “prosperity and industrial strategy,” the bureaucratic setup points to a sidelining of the French vision. Although Séjourné heads the internal market and industrial strategy portfolio (alongside Portuguese Commissioner Maria Luis Albuquerque), several essential sectors remain out of France’s direct oversight. Defense and space policy, for instance, falls under Finland’s Henna Virkkunen (co-supervise by the Bulgarian Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharleva), while energy and green growth – crucial for France’s interests in nuclear energy – will be managed by Spain’s Teresa Ribera, who has expressed anti-nuclear views. This alignment reduces France’s capacity to shape EU defense priorities and energy transitions in ways that align with its national interests. Economic and budgetary control rests with Ursula von der Leyen and Polish Commissioner Piotr Serafin, further limiting Séjourné’s influence over broader financial policies. Together, these arrangements position France more as a secondary player, with direct oversight diminished on industrial, energy, and defense fronts – areas traditionally central to French strategic interests within the EU.