Statement by the candidate for President of the Commission, Jean-Claude JUNCKER at the European Parliament in Strasburg, ahead of his election to President of the European Commission.

statement

Strasbourg

plenary session

JUNCKER, Jean-Claude (LU)

European Commission

appointment of the President of the European Commission (T)

appointment of Jean-Claude JUNCKER as EC President 2014 (T)

Statement by the candidate for President of the Commission: extracts from the statement by Jean-Claude JUNCKER

SOUNDBITE (French), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, Commission President-designate, "Europe can not be built against the states, or the nations, which are not just a provisional invention of history; nations are there to stay in the long term. And we, the Commission and the Parliament, shall act in the general interest and I would like us to work together to do that."

SOUNDBITE (French), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, Commission President-designate, "The President of the Commission is elected by this Parliament but that does not mean that the President of the Commission then receive orders from the Parliament. I would not just be the Parliament's aide-de-camp, but don't doubt for a second that I am determined to put an end to a Commissioner's function that you are no longer able to put your trust in. And, I am determined to ensure that I put forward a legislative proposal that complies with your initiatives and your ideas".

SOUNDBITE (French), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, Commission President-designate, "I say to the governments: resist more often the temptation of criticising decisions we have just taken together when you get back home to your capitals, resist the temptation to criticize Brussels. If you said 'yes' in Brussels, don't say 'no' elsewhere and don't say ever again after a meeting of the European Council that you have scored a victory and the others have lost out. In Europe, we can only win if we win together and we all loose together if someone looses".

SOUNDBITE (French), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, Commission President-designate, "As one of the strongest currencies of the world we have to stop being in the ridiculous situation of being represented by so many different voices who contradict each other, I would like the economic and monetary union and the euro being represented by one single person, one single chair, one single office".

SOUNDBITE (French), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, Commission President-designate, "The agreement will not be concluded at any price. We can't abandon our standards in the area of health, we can't give up our social standards, we can't forget our demands when it comes to the protection of data. I would not like data protection to be part of the negotiations with our American friends".

SOUNDBITE (French), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, Commission President-designate, <p>" I would have liked to talk in greater detail about Ukraine and I'd like to greet the people of Ukraine today and say to them that we feel that they are European people and that Ukraine has its place in Europe. Applause. " I would have liked to talk in greater detail to explain why I think it is necessary that all countries of the EU put in place a minimum social wage and a minimum guaranteed income and we will be working in that direction."</p>

SOUNDBITE (French), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, Commission President-designate, " Let's be proud that we have created the single currency. This single currency doesn't split Europe but protects Europe, yes, it protects Europe". Applause and booing from the chamber

SOUNDBITE (French), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, Commission President-designate, <p>"If you look now at the Ukraine crisis and if you look at the economic and financial crisis which has hit us and have turned Europe in the epicentre of a global battle. If during that period we would have still be in the European monetary system, Europe today will be in the middle of a monetary war: France against Germany, Germany fighting Italy, Italy fighting Portugal and Spain in a monetary battle, everybody against everybody else! The Euro, its discipline and its ambitions guarantees, ensures that we see monetary stability to protect us. The euro protects Europe !".</p>

SOUNDBITE (English), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, Commission President-designate, " I am defending the single currency because it protects Europe, its economy and its citizens." Applause and reactions