03/09/24 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 3 September, the European Commission considered that the current college of Commissioners was perfectly “entitled” to appoint a new chief economist at DG Competition, even though the post has been vacant for one year and the appointment of US national Fiona Scott-Morton was abandoned in July 2023 after a major controversy over her nationality and her proximity to Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager. Politico reported on 3 September that MEPs were annoyed at the current DG’s haste to appoint this Chief Economist. The Commission has stressed that this decision falls entirely within its remit. The new recruitment procedure was launched on 5 March, with an application deadline of 5 April. The recruitment procedure is “still ongoing”, but this time only EU nationals have been permitted to apply. (SP)