Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has faced allegations of cronyism following the appointment of Pieper to a highly paid position, both of whom belong to the same German political party. Pieper was scheduled to begin the role on Tuesday.
More than half of MEPs in the European Parliament supported an amendment last week urging von der Leyen to restart the appointment process.
Despite two other female candidates reportedly scoring higher on tests during the selection process, Pieper signed the contract on March 31.
This controversy surrounding her envoy selection adds to the challenges von der Leyen faces as she seeks re-election as European Commission President.
European Commission Vice President Josep Borrell and Commissioners Nicolas Schmit, Paolo Gentiloni, and Thierry Breton, all working under von der Leyen, criticized Pieper’s appointment, signaling a decline in Commission unity as the European election approaches.
In an interview with Handelsblatt, Pieper stated: “Just as Breton preemptively opposed my assumption of the office within the Commission, I currently do not see a way to meet the legitimate expectations associated with the position.”
