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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Jean-Claude Juncker set to win European Commission vote | Jean-Claude Juncker set to win European Commission vote |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The European Parliament is expected to approve the nomination of former Luxembourg PM Jean-Claude Juncker as president of the European Commission, despite strong opposition from Britain. | The European Parliament is expected to approve the nomination of former Luxembourg PM Jean-Claude Juncker as president of the European Commission, despite strong opposition from Britain. |
| If backed by a majority of MEPs, he will succeed incumbent Jose Manuel Barroso of Portugal in November. | If backed by a majority of MEPs, he will succeed incumbent Jose Manuel Barroso of Portugal in November. |
| In a speech to MEPs, he pledged the Commission would be a "political body", not just Europe's civil service. | In a speech to MEPs, he pledged the Commission would be a "political body", not just Europe's civil service. |
| He got sustained applause when he said the euro "protects Europe". | He got sustained applause when he said the euro "protects Europe". |
| He said the old European Monetary System, before the single currency, had aggravated inflation and tensions between EU states. | He said the old European Monetary System, before the single currency, had aggravated inflation and tensions between EU states. |
| The euro's disciplines had ensured monetary stability, he insisted. | The euro's disciplines had ensured monetary stability, he insisted. |
| At that point there were some shouts of "rubbish!" from UK Independence Party MEPs. | At that point there were some shouts of "rubbish!" from UK Independence Party MEPs. |
| The MEPs voted by secret ballot - unusually using ballot papers, rather than the electronic system. The votes are being counted now. | |
| Mr Juncker needs 376 votes minimum - an absolute majority in the 751-seat parliament. | |
| Eurozone veteran | Eurozone veteran |
| As chair of the eurozone finance ministers Mr Juncker played a key role in putting together bailouts for Greece, Portugal and other struggling countries at the height of the euro crisis in 2010-2012. | As chair of the eurozone finance ministers Mr Juncker played a key role in putting together bailouts for Greece, Portugal and other struggling countries at the height of the euro crisis in 2010-2012. |
| He likened that role on Tuesday to "trying to keep a burning plane in the air while repairing it - you burn your fingers sometimes". | |
| The first part of his speech was in French, then he switched to German and later to English - using all three of the EU's official working languages. | |
| Elsewhere in his speech he said: | Elsewhere in his speech he said: |
| Last month, Mr Juncker won the backing of 26 out of 28 leaders of the EU. | Last month, Mr Juncker won the backing of 26 out of 28 leaders of the EU. |
| UK PM David Cameron - supported by his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban - called the move "a serious mistake". | UK PM David Cameron - supported by his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban - called the move "a serious mistake". |
| Mr Cameron said Mr Juncker, 59, was too much in favour of closer political union and might block EU reform. | Mr Cameron said Mr Juncker, 59, was too much in favour of closer political union and might block EU reform. |
| The presidency is the most powerful job in Brussels - the Commission drafts EU laws, oversees national budgets, enforces EU treaties and negotiates international trade deals. | The presidency is the most powerful job in Brussels - the Commission drafts EU laws, oversees national budgets, enforces EU treaties and negotiates international trade deals. |
| New procedure | New procedure |
| Mr Juncker, a veteran of Brussels deal-making, was lead candidate of the centre-right European People's Party (EPP), which won May's European elections. | Mr Juncker, a veteran of Brussels deal-making, was lead candidate of the centre-right European People's Party (EPP), which won May's European elections. |
| Objecting to his candidacy, Mr Cameron had pushed for - and lost - a vote on Mr Juncker, breaking with tradition. | Objecting to his candidacy, Mr Cameron had pushed for - and lost - a vote on Mr Juncker, breaking with tradition. |
| In the past such appointments were made by the EU leaders - meeting in the European Council - by unanimity. | In the past such appointments were made by the EU leaders - meeting in the European Council - by unanimity. |
| After the vote Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel said there would be a review of how the Commission president was nominated - but only after the new Commission team was in place. | After the vote Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel said there would be a review of how the Commission president was nominated - but only after the new Commission team was in place. |
| Mr Juncker's supporters value his record of consensus-building and commitment to EU integration. | Mr Juncker's supporters value his record of consensus-building and commitment to EU integration. |
| Under new EU treaty rules, the leaders have to take account of the European election result when nominating a Commission chief. | Under new EU treaty rules, the leaders have to take account of the European election result when nominating a Commission chief. |
| In the coming months, a new 28-member Commission team - one from each country - will be appointed. The EU will also appoint a new foreign policy chief and new president of the European Council. | In the coming months, a new 28-member Commission team - one from each country - will be appointed. The EU will also appoint a new foreign policy chief and new president of the European Council. |
| Jean-Claude Juncker: A man for Europe? | Jean-Claude Juncker: A man for Europe? |
| Arguments for and against Juncker | Arguments for and against Juncker |