BRUSSELS/PARIS, July 13 (Reuters) - France's foreign minister and government minister have called EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager to reconsider her appointment of a U.S. economist and former antitrust official to a senior job at the European Commission overseeing Big Tech.
Vestager on Tuesday announced the hiring of Fiona Scott Morton, the former chief economist at the U.S. Department of Justice during former President Barack Obama's tenure.
Scott Morton will take up her post on Sept. 1 when the current chief economist, Pierre Regibeau, retires.
French foreign minister Catherine Colonna said she was astonished at the appointment.
"I invite the @EU_Commission to reconsider their choice."
Persons:
Margrethe Vestager, Fiona Scott Morton, Barack Obama's, Scott Morton, Pierre Regibeau, Catherine Colonna, Jean, Noel Barrot, Foo Yun Chee, Conor Humphries
Organizations:
European Commission, Big Tech, Vestager, Tuesday, U.S . Department of Justice, Charles River Associates, DG, Thomson
Locations:
BRUSSELS, PARIS, France, Europe