German EU lawmaker Markus Pieper has resigned as European Commission representative for small and medium-sized (SME) enterprises, after his appointment was heavily criticized.
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced Pieper's resignation late on Monday evening in Brussels.
EU lawmakers had previously highlighted Pieper's membership of von der Leyen's political party, Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU), as a cause of concern.
"The President respects and regrets Markus Pieper's decision not to take up his post as SME Envoy on April 16 as planned," said a spokesman for von der Leyen. There will now be a new selection procedure, but only after the European elections in June.
A resolution calling for Pieper's appointment to be revoked was passed on Thursday by EU lawmakers from the liberal, Green and centre-left groups in the European Parliament with 382 EU legislators voting in favour, 144 voting against while 80 abstained.
The resolution cast doubt as to whether "the principles of merit, gender balance and geographical balance" had been taken into account in the appointment of Pieper over the two female candidates.
On Monday evening, von der Leyen's spokesman emphasized once again that Pieper was a proven expert for SMEs who had prevailed in a multi-stage selection process.
He also emphasized that the freedom of choice of all EU institutions in the selection of their own senior management positions must be respected.