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David Cameron warns EU leaders over Jean-Claude Juncker appointment Cameron warns EU leaders over Juncker appointment
(about 11 hours later)
David Cameron has signalled that he would warn EU leaders at their summit in Brussels that the appointment of Jean-Claude Juncker as next head of the EU executive will increase support for a British withdrawal from the EU.David Cameron has signalled that he would warn EU leaders at their summit in Brussels that the appointment of Jean-Claude Juncker as next head of the EU executive will increase support for a British withdrawal from the EU.
As Germany and France brushed aside British threats to call a vote on the Juncker nomination at a Brussels lunch on Friday and amid signs that EU leaders will offer overwhelming support for the former Luxembourg prime minister, Cameron warned of "consequences" if Juncker is endorsed.As Germany and France brushed aside British threats to call a vote on the Juncker nomination at a Brussels lunch on Friday and amid signs that EU leaders will offer overwhelming support for the former Luxembourg prime minister, Cameron warned of "consequences" if Juncker is endorsed.
The prime minister declared that EU leaders were wrong to support Juncker. "This is the wrong person, the wrong approach, the wrong principle," he said.The prime minister declared that EU leaders were wrong to support Juncker. "This is the wrong person, the wrong approach, the wrong principle," he said.
"My message to my fellow heads of government and heads of state is that this approach that they are contemplating taking is the wrong approach for Europe. That is a mistake.""My message to my fellow heads of government and heads of state is that this approach that they are contemplating taking is the wrong approach for Europe. That is a mistake."
He added: "They are contemplating choosing someone who I think will struggle to be voice of reform and change in Europe."He added: "They are contemplating choosing someone who I think will struggle to be voice of reform and change in Europe."
But the leaders of Germany and France made it plain that they were prepared to win a vote if Cameron insisted.But the leaders of Germany and France made it plain that they were prepared to win a vote if Cameron insisted.
While emphasising that the decision on Juncker would be taken on Friday, Angela Merkel offered Cameron a consolation prize, stressing she wanted to reach "good compromises" on his reform agenda for the next five years.While emphasising that the decision on Juncker would be taken on Friday, Angela Merkel offered Cameron a consolation prize, stressing she wanted to reach "good compromises" on his reform agenda for the next five years.
"If we have clarity on the necessary content for the next five years, we will take the decision on the next European commission president," the German chancellor said. "We can find good compromises with Great Britain and move a bit towards Great Britain.""If we have clarity on the necessary content for the next five years, we will take the decision on the next European commission president," the German chancellor said. "We can find good compromises with Great Britain and move a bit towards Great Britain."
François Hollande, the French president, said: "If there is British request on this topic, I am for a vote. There are times when Europe has to say what it wants."François Hollande, the French president, said: "If there is British request on this topic, I am for a vote. There are times when Europe has to say what it wants."
He dismissed speculation about the UK invoking an obscure mechanism from the 1960 enabling a member state to cite vital national interests to stall a summit decision. "It's not a defining choice for the future of a country meriting a veto," Hollande said.He dismissed speculation about the UK invoking an obscure mechanism from the 1960 enabling a member state to cite vital national interests to stall a summit decision. "It's not a defining choice for the future of a country meriting a veto," Hollande said.
Martin Schulz, the German social democrat and speaker of the European parliament who has played a central role in pushing Juncker to be the next president of the European commission, said: "Let's be honest, [Cameron's] is not a normal political attitude. It's up to him whether he wants to marginalise himself."Martin Schulz, the German social democrat and speaker of the European parliament who has played a central role in pushing Juncker to be the next president of the European commission, said: "Let's be honest, [Cameron's] is not a normal political attitude. It's up to him whether he wants to marginalise himself."
In a sign of how highly charged the atmosphere is expected to be at Friday's lunch, it was confirmed on Thursday night that EU leaders have voiced concerns over Juncker's drinking habits in the last month. The former Luxembourg PM was famous for ensuring a ready supply of wine during his eight-year presidency of the Eurogroup of eurozone finance ministers until last year.In a sign of how highly charged the atmosphere is expected to be at Friday's lunch, it was confirmed on Thursday night that EU leaders have voiced concerns over Juncker's drinking habits in the last month. The former Luxembourg PM was famous for ensuring a ready supply of wine during his eight-year presidency of the Eurogroup of eurozone finance ministers until last year.
"His alcohol consumption has been raised by a number of leaders since the parliamentary elections [last month]," said an EU diplomat."His alcohol consumption has been raised by a number of leaders since the parliamentary elections [last month]," said an EU diplomat.
There were also reports that Juncker chain-smoked through a meeting of European People's party leaders in the Flanders town of Kortrijk on Thursday before the Ypres summit dedicated to marking the centenary of the start of the first world war.There were also reports that Juncker chain-smoked through a meeting of European People's party leaders in the Flanders town of Kortrijk on Thursday before the Ypres summit dedicated to marking the centenary of the start of the first world war.
EU diplomats suggested his campaign team have been examining changing the rules of the European commission's Berlaymont headquarters to allow Juncker to smoke in the president's suite of offices.EU diplomats suggested his campaign team have been examining changing the rules of the European commission's Berlaymont headquarters to allow Juncker to smoke in the president's suite of offices.
The warnings about Juncker came as Cameron prepared the ground for a strong warning at the end of the summit on Friday afternoon about the consequences of his appointment, telling the BBC: "Everything has consequences in life. And obviously, I think proceeding in the way that countries are planning to proceed in choosing this individual is the wrong approach. I think that would be bad for not just [Britain], but all of Europe."The warnings about Juncker came as Cameron prepared the ground for a strong warning at the end of the summit on Friday afternoon about the consequences of his appointment, telling the BBC: "Everything has consequences in life. And obviously, I think proceeding in the way that countries are planning to proceed in choosing this individual is the wrong approach. I think that would be bad for not just [Britain], but all of Europe."
The prime minister chose his words with care to avoid souring the atmosphere as EU leaders gathered for the Last Post at the Menin Gate in Ypres. But British officials indicated that the prime minister will want to make clear that the appointment of Juncker shows that the EU is not heeding the concerns of voters who supported fringe anti-EU parties in high numbers in last month's European parliamentary elections. He may indicate that if the EU fails to embrace the cause of reform, supporters of an EU exit in Britain will be emboldened.The prime minister chose his words with care to avoid souring the atmosphere as EU leaders gathered for the Last Post at the Menin Gate in Ypres. But British officials indicated that the prime minister will want to make clear that the appointment of Juncker shows that the EU is not heeding the concerns of voters who supported fringe anti-EU parties in high numbers in last month's European parliamentary elections. He may indicate that if the EU fails to embrace the cause of reform, supporters of an EU exit in Britain will be emboldened.
A British official said: "If the council, as looks likely, proceeds down a route where they go ahead and there is a vote and Juncker is the commission president-designate, that will have an impact on the debate in Britain. It will have an impact on the discussions we have about Britain's role in the EU. Other leaders round the table who want Britain to continue to play a strong role in the EU in the future need to be thinking about what that debate is, what the concerns of Britain are, and what the issues are that will address that."A British official said: "If the council, as looks likely, proceeds down a route where they go ahead and there is a vote and Juncker is the commission president-designate, that will have an impact on the debate in Britain. It will have an impact on the discussions we have about Britain's role in the EU. Other leaders round the table who want Britain to continue to play a strong role in the EU in the future need to be thinking about what that debate is, what the concerns of Britain are, and what the issues are that will address that."
The prime minister said at a meeting of centre-right leaders in Sweden this month that appointing Juncker would complicate his plans to campaign for a yes vote in his planned referendum in 2017. "That would be very unhelpful. I think it is very plain and obvious," he said.The prime minister said at a meeting of centre-right leaders in Sweden this month that appointing Juncker would complicate his plans to campaign for a yes vote in his planned referendum in 2017. "That would be very unhelpful. I think it is very plain and obvious," he said.
The concerns about Juncker, which have also been raised in the European commission, come as little surprise to EU veterans. One source told the Guardian: "Juncker was a perfectly good chairman of the Eurogroup during the crisis. He is not a visionary but Luxembourg doesn't do visionaries. Anyway, Britain says it doesn't want any visionaries."The concerns about Juncker, which have also been raised in the European commission, come as little surprise to EU veterans. One source told the Guardian: "Juncker was a perfectly good chairman of the Eurogroup during the crisis. He is not a visionary but Luxembourg doesn't do visionaries. Anyway, Britain says it doesn't want any visionaries."