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EU leaders giving mixed messages on Juncker, says Osborne Cameron set for EU vote over Juncker
(about 3 hours later)
Chancellor George Osborne has accused European leaders of not being upfront about the need to reform - as the UK attempts to stop Jean-Claude Juncker from taking the top job in Brussels. David Cameron will call for a vote of EU leaders this week if Jean-Claude Juncker is nominated as European Commission president, No 10 has said.
He claims people are saying a lot of things privately that they are not saying publicly. The prime minister will spell out UK opposition to Mr Juncker during a meeting with European Council president Herman Van Rompuy on Monday.
David Cameron is meeting European Council president Herman Van Rompuy to spell out UK opposition to Mr Juncker. He will tell him to expect a vote at a summit in Brussels on Friday.
But his campaign to block Mr Juncker looks doomed to fail. No 10 says the commission should be looking for "bright and fresh people" to steer EU reform.
Mr Cameron's meeting with Mr Van Rompuy on Monday will be seen as an opportunity for him to strengthen his opposition to the former Luxembourg prime minister becoming the next European Commission president. "The prime minister will make clear that if the European Council seeks to proceed with the nomination of Jean-Claude Juncker, then the prime minister will expect there to be a vote on that," a Downing Street spokeswoman said.
He is also set to call for EU leaders to vote on the issue at a summit in Brussels on Friday. 'Wake up call'
Mr Osborne says there is wider unease about the possibility of Mr Juncker becoming the next president. She also confirmed that Mr Cameron had spoken to Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt about the decision of a number of Centre Left governments to back Mr Juncker.
'Odd phenomenon' But the spokeswoman declined to say whether the two leaders had discussed other possible candidates.
She said the recent European elections should have been "a wake up call" to the EU that it was time for reform and change.
The row over Mr Juncker hit the headlines a few weeks ago when Mr Cameron reportedly warned the UK could leave the EU if he became president of the European Commission - the body which drafts EU laws.
Mr Cameron wants a delay in the process in an effort to find a consensus candidate, but if his fellow 27 EU leaders are not even willing to consider alternatives to Mr Juncker, he will seek to call a vote and require them to set out their positions clearly.
Chancellor George Osborne says there is wider unease about the possibility of Mr Juncker becoming the next president.
Private briefing?
"The prime minister is arguing from a position of principle about getting the right people and making sure the right people choose the leader of the European Commission," the chancellor told BBC Radio 4's Today programme."The prime minister is arguing from a position of principle about getting the right people and making sure the right people choose the leader of the European Commission," the chancellor told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
"It's not about Britain versus the rest, it is about us collectively making sure that when people from around the world are looking at where they are going to put their factories, where they are going to put their talented people, where they locate their business, they look to the EU and hopefully, within the EU, they look to Britain.""It's not about Britain versus the rest, it is about us collectively making sure that when people from around the world are looking at where they are going to put their factories, where they are going to put their talented people, where they locate their business, they look to the EU and hopefully, within the EU, they look to Britain."
But Mr Osborne said different messages were emerging from Europe. "I think there is a fairly odd phenomenon at the moment - which does happen, believe it or not, in politics - which is that people are saying quite a lot of things privately that they are not saying publicly.But Mr Osborne said different messages were emerging from Europe. "I think there is a fairly odd phenomenon at the moment - which does happen, believe it or not, in politics - which is that people are saying quite a lot of things privately that they are not saying publicly.
"I think privately a lot of European governments understand that the institutions of Europe need reform, that they are under huge pressure from their domestic populations to deliver stronger economies, more investment to Europe, that Europe needs to better connect as a union to the people on this continent."I think privately a lot of European governments understand that the institutions of Europe need reform, that they are under huge pressure from their domestic populations to deliver stronger economies, more investment to Europe, that Europe needs to better connect as a union to the people on this continent.
"I think this is quite widely understood among the European governments. Whether that plays out in the European councils over the next few days, we will see.""I think this is quite widely understood among the European governments. Whether that plays out in the European councils over the next few days, we will see."
The row over Mr Juncker hit the headlines a few weeks ago when Mr Cameron reportedly warned the UK could leave the EU if he became president of the European Commission - the body which drafts EU laws.
Mr Cameron wants a delay in the process in an effort to find a consensus candidate, but if his fellow 27 EU leaders are not even willing to consider alternatives to Mr Juncker, he will seek to call a vote and require them to set out their positions clearly.
"British officials have been clear... that if there was the political will to find consensus then the decision on commission president could and should be delayed," a Downing Street source said.
"But if leaders are not even willing to consider alternative names, despite their widely expressed misgivings, then a vote should take place.
"The prime minister believes it is important that each leader sets out their position clearly when such an important principle is at stake - handing power to the parliament through a back-room deal."
'Alternative names''Alternative names'
Mr Cameron, who wants to renegotiate the terms of the UK's membership of the EU, wants a reformer to take charge, whereas Mr Juncker is seen by some as a politician with an instinct for ever-closer European integration.Mr Cameron, who wants to renegotiate the terms of the UK's membership of the EU, wants a reformer to take charge, whereas Mr Juncker is seen by some as a politician with an instinct for ever-closer European integration.
The responsibility for proposing a new president lies with Mr Cameron's 27 fellow heads of government, in a grouping called the European Council.The responsibility for proposing a new president lies with Mr Cameron's 27 fellow heads of government, in a grouping called the European Council.
Jean-Claude Juncker: The numbers gameJean-Claude Juncker: The numbers game
But under new rules, they must now take into account the results of the recent European Parliament elections. The largest grouping after those elections was the centre-right European People's Party (EPP), which had chosen Mr Juncker as their candidate for the post.But under new rules, they must now take into account the results of the recent European Parliament elections. The largest grouping after those elections was the centre-right European People's Party (EPP), which had chosen Mr Juncker as their candidate for the post.
Downing Street believes that the European Parliament now has too much say.Downing Street believes that the European Parliament now has too much say.
Both the Labour leader Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat leader, have also said they do not want Mr Juncker to be the next leader of the commission.Both the Labour leader Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat leader, have also said they do not want Mr Juncker to be the next leader of the commission.
But on Saturday, Mr Juncker received the backing of nine left-wing heads of government.But on Saturday, Mr Juncker received the backing of nine left-wing heads of government.
Speaking on their behalf, the President of France, Francois Hollande, said it was important to respect the spirit of the European parliament elections.Speaking on their behalf, the President of France, Francois Hollande, said it was important to respect the spirit of the European parliament elections.
Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel has also backed Mr Juncker's bid and he also has support from other conservative leaders.Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel has also backed Mr Juncker's bid and he also has support from other conservative leaders.
'Bloody nose''Bloody nose'
Mr Juncker was prime minister of Luxembourg from 1995 to 2013 and one of the architects of the euro.Mr Juncker was prime minister of Luxembourg from 1995 to 2013 and one of the architects of the euro.
He is a strong advocate of a European "solidarity" union - an EU that strives to raise living standards in its poorest regions and sectors.He is a strong advocate of a European "solidarity" union - an EU that strives to raise living standards in its poorest regions and sectors.
Poland's foreign minister, Radek Sikorski, criticised Mr Cameron's opposition to Mr Juncker on the BBC's Andrew Marr show.Poland's foreign minister, Radek Sikorski, criticised Mr Cameron's opposition to Mr Juncker on the BBC's Andrew Marr show.
He said the European Parliament's main parties had announced their candidates in advance.He said the European Parliament's main parties had announced their candidates in advance.
Mr Sikorski said that had the Conservatives still been part of the EPP they could have made his anti-Juncker argument "when EPP chose its candidate and he may well have prevailed".Mr Sikorski said that had the Conservatives still been part of the EPP they could have made his anti-Juncker argument "when EPP chose its candidate and he may well have prevailed".
The Conservatives left the EPP in 2009, fulfilling a pledge Mr Cameron made during his 2005 Conservative leadership election. He said the EPP's federalist views were at odds with Tory views,The Conservatives left the EPP in 2009, fulfilling a pledge Mr Cameron made during his 2005 Conservative leadership election. He said the EPP's federalist views were at odds with Tory views,
Former defence secretary Liam Fox told the same programme that "it's been a real pleasure watching a British prime minister do what he thinks is right in Europe".Former defence secretary Liam Fox told the same programme that "it's been a real pleasure watching a British prime minister do what he thinks is right in Europe".
"Now he may not win the battle, but it is so much better to see a prime minister willing to fight a battle and take a bloody nose than not fight at all.""Now he may not win the battle, but it is so much better to see a prime minister willing to fight a battle and take a bloody nose than not fight at all."
Shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander said getting the right candidate for the head of the European Commission "is ultimately a test of David Cameron's influence with our allies to secure the best deal for Britain in Europe".Shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander said getting the right candidate for the head of the European Commission "is ultimately a test of David Cameron's influence with our allies to secure the best deal for Britain in Europe".
"Even his strongest supporters recognise that so far the prime minister has badly misjudged these vital negotiations, and his public anger appears a very poor substitute for private influence.""Even his strongest supporters recognise that so far the prime minister has badly misjudged these vital negotiations, and his public anger appears a very poor substitute for private influence."