The recent appointment of German MEP Mark Pieper to a high-paying EU post has caused uproar within the European Commission. Just hours before he was set to start his new role as Ambassador for SMEs, Pieper resigned, citing opposition from Commissioner Thierry Breton as a reason for his decision.
According to reports, Pieper was promoted over more qualified candidates and his appointment was influenced by Ursula von der Leyen’s political affiliations. This led to an intervention from high-ranking EU officials, including Borrell and Breton, who demanded an explanation from von der Leyen regarding the fairness of the appointment process.
A formal complaint was also lodged by Martina Dlabajová, a Czech ambassador for SMEs from the Renew group, adding to the pressure on von der Leyen. Despite efforts from the EPP and Finnish coalition to defend Pieper’s appointment, the controversy continues to cast a shadow over von der Leyen’s leadership.
Von der Leyen faces mounting challenges as she navigates through the fallout from Pieper’s appointment. The Parliament passed a resolution demanding transparency in the selection process for the SME ambassador role, further complicating the situation. Von der Leyen is seeking re-election as head of the Commission and must address this scandal if she hopes to secure another term in office.
