U.S. Professor Rejects EU Job Offer Amidst Controversy

An American citizen and Yale professor, Fiona Scott Morton, made the decision to decline a prominent position within the European Union (EU) due to significant backlash from politicians within the bloc.

Scott Morton had been nominated to serve as the chief competition economist in Margrethe Vestager’s team, who serves as the EU’s competition chief.

“Given the political controversy surrounding the selection of a non-European candidate for this role… I have concluded that the best course of action is to withdraw from and not assume the position of Chief Economist,” she stated in a letter shared by Vestager on Wednesday morning.

The appointment of Scott Morton faced intense questioning from European lawmakers, with criticism primarily centered around her non-European nationality and her previous work as a consultant for Big Tech.

Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, expressed skepticism about the appointment, stating that it contradicted the region’s strategic autonomy goals. Various members of the French government also voiced their concerns in recent days.

Jean-Noël Barrot, France’s Minister Delegate in charge of the digital transition and telecommunications, expressed his apprehension about Scott Morton’s appointment through Twitter, stating, “At a time when Europe is embarking on the most ambitious digital regulation in the world, the recent appointment of the Chief Economist of the DG [Directorates-General] Competition raises legitimate questions.”

Scott Morton holds a bachelor’s degree from Yale College and a Ph.D. in Economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She has also previously worked in economic analysis at the antitrust division of the U.S. Department of Justice.

The EU has been actively striving to reduce its reliance on other global powers, particularly the U.S. and China. Over the past decade, the EU has taken the lead in tech regulation, and its member states remain committed to this endeavor.