French President Emmanuel Macron cut loose his outspoken commissioner to the European Union, Thierry Breton, in a bid to secure a more influential role for his country in Brussels.Breton had been a key figure in the current commission and as internal market chief he helped ensure that Macron had a hand in shaping the EU’s response to the growing power of US tech giants.

France picked Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne as its new candidate for the next European Commission as the incumbent, Thierry Breton, abruptly quit on Monday with tough words for the EU's re-elected executive chief Ursula von der Leyen.