NEW DELHI: X CEO Linda Yaccarino sarcastically referred to the resignation of European Union commissioner Thierry Breton as "a good day for free speech ." Yaccarino made the remark on the social media platform X shortly after Breton, who had pursued Elon Musk over content regulation, announced his abrupt resignation.
Breton, who served as the EU’s internal market commissioner for five years from December 2019, had been instrumental in regulating the digital space, particularly with the introduction of the Digital Services Act (DSA). His tenure saw multiple confrontations with big tech firms, including Musk's X, over content moderation and regulatory compliance.
In his resignation post on X, Breton expressed his thanks to colleagues and team members, saying, "I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my colleagues in the College, Commission services, MEPs, Member States, and my team. Together, we have worked tirelessly to advance an ambitious EU agenda. It has been an honour & privilege to serve the common European interest."
Breton also issued a resignation letter addressed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen , in which he detailed the reasons for his departure. In his letter, he wrote:
"Dear President, On 24 July, you wrote to Member States asking them to nominate candidates for the 2024-2029 College of Commissioners, specifying that Member States that intend to suggest the incumbent Member of the Commission were not required to suggest two candidates. On 25 July, President Emmanuel Macron designated me as France's official candidate for a second mandate in the College of Commissioners - as he had already publicly announced on the margins of the European Council on 28 June. A few days ago, in the very final stretch of negotiations on the composition of the future College, you asked France to withdraw my name - for personal reasons that in no instance you have discussed directly with me - and offered, as a political trade-off, an allegedly more influential portfolio for France in the future College. You will now be proposed a different candidate.
Over the past five years, I have relentlessly striven to uphold and advance the common European good, above national and party interests. It has been an honour.
However, in light of these latest developments - further testimony to questionable governance - I have to conclude that I can no longer exercise my duties in the College. I am therefore resigning from my position as European Commissioner, effective immediately."
Breton’s abrupt resignation follows mounting tensions between tech giants and European regulators, with his strong stance on digital platform regulations often placing him at odds with figures like Elon Musk. His departure is expected to have significant implications for the future direction of EU technology policy.
It’s a good day for free speech. https://t.co/8HPGxmG4XP
— Linda Yaccarino (@lindayaX) September 16, 2024
Breton, who served as the EU’s internal market commissioner for five years from December 2019, had been instrumental in regulating the digital space, particularly with the introduction of the Digital Services Act (DSA). His tenure saw multiple confrontations with big tech firms, including Musk's X, over content moderation and regulatory compliance.
In his resignation post on X, Breton expressed his thanks to colleagues and team members, saying, "I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my colleagues in the College, Commission services, MEPs, Member States, and my team. Together, we have worked tirelessly to advance an ambitious EU agenda. It has been an honour & privilege to serve the common European interest."
I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my colleagues in the College, Commission services, MEPs, Member States, and my team.
— Thierry Breton (@ThierryBreton) September 16, 2024
Together, we have worked tirelessly to advance an ambitious EU agenda.
It has been an honour & privilege to serve the common European interest🇪🇺 pic.twitter.com/wQ4eeHUnYu
Breton also issued a resignation letter addressed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen , in which he detailed the reasons for his departure. In his letter, he wrote:
"Dear President, On 24 July, you wrote to Member States asking them to nominate candidates for the 2024-2029 College of Commissioners, specifying that Member States that intend to suggest the incumbent Member of the Commission were not required to suggest two candidates. On 25 July, President Emmanuel Macron designated me as France's official candidate for a second mandate in the College of Commissioners - as he had already publicly announced on the margins of the European Council on 28 June. A few days ago, in the very final stretch of negotiations on the composition of the future College, you asked France to withdraw my name - for personal reasons that in no instance you have discussed directly with me - and offered, as a political trade-off, an allegedly more influential portfolio for France in the future College. You will now be proposed a different candidate.
Over the past five years, I have relentlessly striven to uphold and advance the common European good, above national and party interests. It has been an honour.
However, in light of these latest developments - further testimony to questionable governance - I have to conclude that I can no longer exercise my duties in the College. I am therefore resigning from my position as European Commissioner, effective immediately."
Breton’s abrupt resignation follows mounting tensions between tech giants and European regulators, with his strong stance on digital platform regulations often placing him at odds with figures like Elon Musk. His departure is expected to have significant implications for the future direction of EU technology policy.
