European People’s Party opens bidding process for Commission presidency ahead of 2014 European elections

Summary:

The European People's Party (EPP) opened on 13 February 2014 the process of candidacies for figures to become the party's lead candidate (spitzenkandidat) ahead of the 2014 European Parliament election.

Further information:

Three candidates submitted their bids - France's Michel Barnier, Latvia's Vladis Dombrovskis and Luxembourg's Jean-Claude Juncker, which was eventually elected the EPP lead candidate. The European People's Party was scheduled to choose its lead candidate at its annual congress, which was held in March 2014.

ESO: Background information: Centre-right to table joint candidate for EU commission http://www.europeansources.info/showDoc?ID=1188394

Financial Times, 04.02.14: EU elections need new faces (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE137775-EU-elections-need-new-faces

EurActiv, 14.02.14: Centre-right candidates asked to step forward http://www.euractiv.com/eu-elections-2014/centre-right-top-candidates-aske-news-533504

EurActiv, 14.02.14: Dombrovskis ready to enter EPP race for top EU job http://www.euractiv.com/eu-elections-2014/dombrovskis-ready-enter-epp-race-news-533521

EUObserver [Interview], 17.02.14: 'Baltic candidate' challenges Juncker for EU top job http://euobserver.com/eu-elections/123153

Euronews, 18.02.14: Former Latvia PM eyes top EU job http://www.euronews.com/2014/02/18/former-latvia-pm-eyes-top-eu-job/

EurActiv, 03.03.14: Barnier takes on Juncker for EU Commission job http://www.euractiv.com/eu-elections-2014/barnier-challenge-juncker-centre-news-533867

EUObserver, 06.03.14: Centre-right leaders to pick top EU commission candidate http://euobserver.com/eu-elections/123364

Spiegel Online International, 07.03.14: The Spitzenkandidats: EU Parliament Elections Become Explosive http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/britian-leads-opposition-to-politicization-of-eu-commmission-a-956849.html

BBC News, 14.01.14: France's Michel Barnier aims to head EU Commission http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25726502

EUObserver, 10.01.14: Juncker battles to secure EU nomination http://euobserver.com/political/122676

EurActiv, 09.01.14: French opposition leader U-turns, supports Barnier in Commission bid http://www.euractiv.com/eu-elections-2014/french-opposition-leader-turn-fa-news-532669

EurActiv, 10.01.14: Juncker steps forward for Barroso’s job http://www.euractiv.com/eu-elections-2014/juncker-steps-forward-barroso-jo-news-532686

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