Günther Oettinger

Günther Hermann Oettinger (born 15 October 1953) is a German lawyer and politician of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) who served as European Commissioner for Budget and Human Resources from 2017 to 2019, as European Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society from 2014 to 2016 and as European Commissioner for Energy from 2010 to 2014.

He is affiliated with the liberal-conservative European People's Party (EPP). He served as Minister-President of Baden-Württemberg between 2005 and 2010 and as chairman of the CDU Baden-Württemberg from 2005 until 2010.

Since 2021, Oettinger has served as president of the German private university EBS Universität für Wirtschaft und Recht in Wiesbaden.

He studied law and Economics at the University of Tübingen. He worked in an accounting and tax consulting business, before being licensed in 1984 to practice law and worked in this sector until 1988.

At his confirmation hearing before the European Parliament in 2010, Oettinger pledged to enforce the principle of solidarity on energy policy as enshrined in the EU's Lisbon Treaty so that no member state could be left disadvantaged. He struck a chord with parliamentarians by basing his security of supply strategy equally on diversifying gas transportation routes from third countries and promoting indigenous renewable energy. The second phase began with the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in 2011 and the resulting energy transition in Germany. Oettinger advised that there should be no new taxes on energy within the EU, and current taxes should not be raised, if prices are to be kept competitive with rivals fuelled by cheaper shale gas in the US.

Throughout his time in office, Oettinger regularly made headlines for his comments on constituent EU member countries' economic situations. In remarks published by German media in May 2013, he expressed doubts about France's economic recovery and said "too many in Europe still believe that everything will be fine." France, he said, "is completely unprepared to do what's necessary," while Italy, Bulgaria and Romania "are essentially ungovernable." Oettinger has also repeatedly been in conflict with the German government.

In mid-2014, Oettinger led high-level talks in order to facilitate a deal under which Ukraine would pay Russia $3.1 billion amid a dispute over unpaid Russian gas bills and Russia would deliver the gas Ukraine needs for the winter.

Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society, 2014–16 Following the 2014 European elections, both governing parties in Germany – the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD) – backed Oettinger to remain as the German EU Commissioner in the incoming European Commission. Instead, Jean-Claude Juncker, President-elect of the European Commission, nominated Oettinger as Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society.

In this capacity, Oettinger was in charge of the Commission's department for communications networks, content and technology. His department gained considerable powers as part of Juncker's administrative reshuffle, including over the fight against counterfeiting, piracy and copyright. He shared competency over cyber-security matters with Dimitris Avramopoulos.

Data protection

In a nod to European concerns over data protection, Oettinger expressed his support for stiffer rules currently under consideration that would provide Europeans with a greater say over how their online data is used by the likes of Google, Facebook and other internet companies. He also supported the legal principle known as the "right to be forgotten", in which people have the right to ask that search engines no longer produce certain irrelevant or out-of-date information, when a search is done on the basis of the person's name internet searches.

Economic policy

In an op-ed published in both the Financial Times and Les Échos in November 2014, Oettinger questioned whether President François Hollande had the "willingness to act" to reform the French economy and said the Commission should insist France undertake "concrete and quantifiable measures coupled with precise deadlines" as a condition for a fresh deficit extension; in response, members of the French Socialists called for Oettinger to resign.

Commissioner for Budget and Human Resources, 2017–19

On 1 January 2017 Oettinger was reassigned to the Budget and Human Resources portfolio, following the resignation of Kristalina Georgieva with effect from 31 December 2016 to take up a new position as chief executive officer of the World Bank.

Career after EU retirement In 2019, Oettinger and his partner Friederike Beyer jointly set up Oettinger Consulting, a Hamburg-based advisory firm. In 2020, he became a consultant to Viktor Orban.

Since 2021, Oettinger has been serving as the president of EBS University of Business and Law.

Controversies Eulogy controversy On 11 April 2007, Oettinger gave a controversial eulogy on one of his predecessors as Minister President of Baden-Württemberg, Hans Filbinger who had been forced to resign in 1978 after allegations surfaced about his role as a navy lawyer and judge during World War II. In his speech at the memorial service at Freiburg, Oettinger described Filbinger as "not a National-Socialist" but as "an opponent of the Nazi régime", who "could escape the constraints of the régime as little as millions of others". Referring to Filbinger's role as a naval judge, Oettinger pointed out that no lives were taken by Filbinger's verdicts and that he did not wield the power and freedom suggested by his critics. Oettinger was subsequently accused by politicians and the media of playing down the significance of the Nazi dictatorship. German Chancellor Angela Merkel publicly admonished him, stating that she would have preferred for "the critical questions" not to be raised. Oettinger was also criticized by opposition politicians and the Central Council of Jews in Germany; some critics even called for his dismissal.

Oettinger at first defended his speech, adding that he regretted any "misunderstanding" over his eulogy although he did not retract his comments about Filbinger's past. Five days later however, he distanced himself from his comments.

Flag controversy Oettinger suggested that heavily indebted countries should fly their flag at half-mast over EU buildings. As a result, several MEPs wrote a letter of protest to EU Commission President José Manuel Barroso, demanding his apology or resignation. Oettinger backed down, saying he did not support the idea of flying flags at half-mast.

Remarks on Chinese people In a speech to business leaders in Hamburg on 26 October 2016, Oettinger referred to Chinese people as "slit-eyes" and "sly dogs". He also stated that it was "consistent" that a Chinese delegation was male-only since China doesn't have female quotas. Oettinger subsequently received criticism both from European sources and a Chinese government spokesman, and several days later issued a statement apologizing for "any remark that was not as respectful as it should have been".

Intervention in Italian politics On 29 May 2018, commenting in an interview with Deutsche Welle on developments in Italy after the 2018 General Election, Oettinger said "Even now, developments on bond markets, the market value of banks, and Italy's economy in general have darkened noticeably and negatively. That has to do with the possible government formation. I can only hope that this will play a role in the election campaign and send a signal not to hand populists on the right and left any responsibility in government."

European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker immediately distanced themselves from these remarks and Oettinger apologised, explaining "I fully respect the will of voters being left, right or centre and in every country. By referring to actual market developments in Italy, I did not mean to be disrespectful."

Other activities Corporate boards Gröner Group, Member of the Advisory Board (since 2022) Donner & Reuschel, Chair of the Adivsory Board (since 2021) HAM-LOG Gruppe, Member of the Advisory Board (since 2021) Herrenknecht, Member of the Supervisory Board (since 2021) Kekst CNC, Member of the Global Advisory Board (since 2020) Amundi Deutschland, Member of the Supervisory Board (since 2020) CG Elementum, Member of the Supervisory Board (since 2020) German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), Member of the Presidium (since 2020) Friends of the Dessau-Wörlitz Garden Realm, Member of the Board of Trustees Initiative D21, Member of the Advisory Board Medien- und Filmgesellschaft Baden-Württemberg (MFG), Member of the Supervisory Board (−2005) Three days later, Oettinger's wife was reported to have already been in a relationship for nine months with Otmar Westerfellhaus, Managing Director of the Porsche car-manufacturing subsidiary in Mannheim.

In 2008, after separating from his wife, Oettinger's liaison with Friederike Beyer, a PR events organiser from Hamburg, who is 25 years his junior, enjoyed wide coverage in the German press. Since 2010, the couple has been residing in Brussels.

Honours

Medal for Extraordinary Merits for Bavaria in a United Europe (2015) Medal "Wuerttemberger Koepfe" for his European engagement (2019)