25/11/2016 (Agence Europe) – The Vice-president of the European Commission with responsibility for the Digital Single Market, Andrus Ansip, appears to approve of the fact that the Digital Economy portfolio has been handed over to his counterpart for Research and Scientific Innovation. "He is an excellent Commissioner. If it had been up to me to choose, my first choice would have been Mr Moedas", he said on Friday 25 November, adding that he already worked with him on dossiers such as data mining and start-ups. In spite of his repeated controversies and fiery relationship with the business world (see EUROPE 11671 and 11670), Commissioner Günther Oettinger will inherit the Budget portfolio at the start of next year, once the resignation of Vice-President Kristalina Georgieva takes effect. Possibly in order to ensure that Oettinger is less exposed in the media, his current portfolio, which is related to the digital economy, has been offered to Moedas. (MB)