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The EU envoy for SMEs, Markus Pieper, resigned from his position on the eve of the start date of his mandate. This was announced by a spokesperson for the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. “The president – says the spokesperson – respects and regrets the decision” of the German EPP MEP, defined as “a proven expert on SMEs”, who “had the upper hand in a multi-stage selection process”.
«The autonomy of each EU institution in the appointment of its own senior officials must be respected», the spokesperson continues, indicating that President von der Leyen «has therefore decided to suspend the reopening of the selection procedures for the role of envoy for SMEs until after the European elections”.