The first reaction of European circles to the announcement of Michel Barnier’s appointment was satisfaction at having someone at Matignon who knows the EU inside out. Minister for European Affairs, European Commissioner twice (Regional Policy under Romano Prodi, Internal Market and Financial Services under José Manuel Barroso II), the new Prime Minister has led the Brexit negotiations for the EU with a masterly hand.
From this European career, Michel Barnier has kept many links in Brussels, especially at the Commission. Several of his former close collaborators are now directors-general, and in strategic positions. Olivier Guersent, his former chief of staff, is director-general for Competition; Kerstin Jorna, also a former chief of staff, is director-general for the Internal Market; his two former right-hand men from the Brexit task force, Sabine Weyand and Stéphanie Riso, are respectively at the head of DG Trade and DG Budget.