Alain has spent the last 30 years at the European Commission working on defence, competition and transport matters.

He started his career in the French Ministry of economy, notably providing support for the financing of SMEs.

He then joined the Competition Department of the European Commission in 1988 and became Head of Unit in charge of the modernisation and implementation of competition policy in the field of transport (State aid policy). As acting Director, he defined the policy and overall strategic orientation of the directorate responsible for competition in the transport, post and other services as regards State aid, merger and antitrust issues.

Over the last 7 years, Alain worked in the General Directorate for defence at the European Commission as Head of Unit, acting Director as well as Advisor of the General Director of the General Direction in charge of Defence Industries and Space. He was notably responsible for the preparation of the European Defence Action Plan, the Defence Development Programme for 2019/2020 and the European Defence Fund for 2021/2027. He has supervised the preparation of key legislative proposals and the political negotiations with the European Parliament and the Council. He also worked on the consistency between industry policy and other policies, notably competition and green transition.

He has a Master of European law delivered by the Sorbonne University.