EU leaders give thumbs up to Juncker, Britain isolated / Juncker: The veteran EU insider loathed by Britain [The next European Commission President]

Series Title
Series Details 27.06.14
Publication Date 27/06/2014
Content Type

Meeting in the European Council on 26-27 June, EU leaders decided on Jean-Claude Juncker as their candidate for President of the European Commission. For the first time in the history of the European Council a vote was taken on the choice and the United Kingdom and Hungary voted against the nomination of Mr Juncker.

EUObserver reported that the decision represented a diplomatic defeat for UK Prime Minister David Cameron, but also a new shift in the balance of power amongst the EU Institutions to the European Parliament's gain.

Mr Cameron said: 'This is a bad day for Europe It risks undermining the position of national governments. It risks undermining the power of national parliaments. And it hands power to the European Parliament'.

EUObserver also reported that EU leaders said in a post-decision statement that they planned to review the way they chose European Commission Presidents in the future after having found themselves left with little room for manoeuvre following the European Parliament-pushed process.

The Guardian and other news sources reported that after the decision German Chancellor Angela Merkel promised a review of nomination process for Commission President seen as a sign of sympathy for David Cameron, and Sweden's Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt also showed sympathy for flexibility in the future.

The BBC reported on the 29 June 2014 that David Cameron and Jean-Claude Juncker spoke together on the telephone on that day. The Prime Minister's office issued a statement:

'The prime minister congratulated Mr Juncker on running a successful campaign and securing the council nomination. They discussed how they would work together to make the EU more competitive and more flexible.

The PM welcomed Mr Juncker's commitment of finding a fair deal for Britain and Mr Juncker said that he was fully committed to finding solutions for the political concerns of the UK'.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-elections-2014/juncker-veteran-eu-insider-loathed-britain-303143
Related Links
ESO: Background information: [The next European Commission President] Juncker seen rejecting Cameron’s EU Commission reform plan / Cameron Outmaneuvered in Battle over Juncker / Merkel praises Danish PM, hints at outsider for EU Council job http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-next-european-commission-president-juncker-seen-rejecting-camerons-eu-commission-reform-plan-cameron-outmaneuvered-in-battle-over-juncker-merkel-praises-danish-pm-hints-at-outsider/
ESO: Background information: A new Commission President in 2014 http://www.europeansources.info/record/a-new-commission-president-in-2014-commons-library-standard-note/
ESO: Background information: European Council, Brussels, 26-27 June 2014 http://www.europeansources.info/record/european-council-brussels-26-27-june-2014/
BBC News, 27.06.14: EU backs Juncker to head Commission in blow to UK http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-28049375
EUObserver, 27.06.14: Juncker chosen for EU commission job, Cameron defeated http://euobserver.com/eu-elections/124790
Euronews, 27.06.14: Jean-Claude Juncker nominated as EU Commission President http://www.euronews.com/2014/06/27/jean-claude-juncker-nominated-as-eu-commission-president/
European Commission: RAPID: SPEECH/14/516: Remarks by President Barroso following the European Council http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-14-516_en.pdf
Deutsche Welle, 27.06.14: 'Mr. Euro' heads for Brussels http://dw.de/p/1C28N
Open Europe: Flash Analysis, 27.06.14: A big defeat but Juncker's appointment is not the end of the road for EU reform http://www.openeurope.org.uk/Article?id=20306
The Economist: Charlemagne, 26.06.14: Charlemagne: The accidental president http://www.economist.com/news/europe/21605960-jean-claude-juncker-will-be-next-commission-boss-even-though-nobody-wants-him-accidental
Cicero: Analysis, 27.06.14: The next Commission President: The democratic choice or institutional power grab? – A Cicero Group Analysis http://www.cicero-group.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Juncker-Cicero-Special.pdf
UK: GOV.UK: Speech, 27.06.14; European Council June 2014: David Cameron’s speech https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/european-council-june-2014-david-camerons-speech
EUObserver, 27.06.14: Who is Jean-Claude Juncker? http://euobserver.com/eu-elections/124789
EUObserver, 27.06.14: Cameron defiant following Juncker defeat http://euobserver.com/eu-elections/124794
EUObserver, 27.06.14: EU leaders to review 'Spitzenkandidat' process http://euobserver.com/eu-elections/124796
Euro|Topics, 27.06.14: Green light for Juncker http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER145861-Green-light-for-Juncker
The Guardian, 28.06.14: Merkel offers Cameron olive branch after Juncker vote http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/28/angela-merkel-david-cameron-juncker-sweden-reinfeldt
Blog: LSE EuroppBlog, 28.06.14: David Cameron’s attempt to block Juncker was a masterclass in how to lose friends in Europe http://bit.ly/1iOlw7f
Chatham House: Expert Comment. 27.06.14: Cameron Has Overplayed His Hand in Campaign Against Juncker http://www.chathamhouse.org/expert/comment/15004
BBC News, 29.06.14: Jean-Claude Juncker 'will address UK concerns' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-28081415
UK: GOV.UK: Prime Minister's Office: Press Release, 29.06.14: PM phone call with Jean-Claude Juncker https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-phone-call-with-jean-claude-juncker
Daily Telgraph, 29.06.14: David Cameron: Why I still believe Britain can do business in Europe http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/10934647/David-Cameron-Why-I-still-believe-Britain-can-do-business-in-Europe.html
EUObserver, 30.06.14: Cameron mends ties with Juncker http://euobserver.com/eu-elections/124798
Euro|Topics, 30.06.14: Cameron congratulates Juncker http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER145945-Cameron-congratulates-Juncker
European Movement UK: Eurobriefing, 30.06.14: The Commission, it's President and the UK http://ymlp.com/zl9w8l
Le Quotidien, 07.07.14: Juncker must show he is a man of action (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE146373-Juncker-must-show-he-is-a-man-of-action
ESO: Background information: The next EU executive: What challenges? http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-next-eu-executive-what-challenges/
UK: GOV.UK: Prime Minister's Office: Press Release, 17.07.14: The Prime Minister met Jean-Claude Juncker, the next European Commission President, this morning (17 July). https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-and-jean-claude-juncker-meeting-july-2014

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