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| David Cameron urges 'bold EU leadership' | David Cameron urges 'bold EU leadership' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| David Cameron has called for "bold leadership" in a newspaper article laying out his criteria for the new president of the European Commission. | David Cameron has called for "bold leadership" in a newspaper article laying out his criteria for the new president of the European Commission. |
| This comes as Britain leads a campaign, with Sweden and the Netherlands, to block the candidacy of Luxembourg's ex-prime minister, Jean-Claude Juncker. | This comes as Britain leads a campaign, with Sweden and the Netherlands, to block the candidacy of Luxembourg's ex-prime minister, Jean-Claude Juncker. |
| German Chancellor Angela Merkel has publicly backed Mr Juncker. | German Chancellor Angela Merkel has publicly backed Mr Juncker. |
| The article is appearing in newspapers in the Irish Republic, France and Germany. | |
| Mr Juncker has been nominated for the position by party groups in Europe. | Mr Juncker has been nominated for the position by party groups in Europe. |
| But Mr Cameron is strongly opposed to Mr Juncker's belief in a closer political union between EU member states and has described Brussels as "too big" and "too bossy". | But Mr Cameron is strongly opposed to Mr Juncker's belief in a closer political union between EU member states and has described Brussels as "too big" and "too bossy". |
| BBC political correspondent Vicki Young says that, in a highly unusual move, Mr Cameron has decided to appeal directly to voters in other EU countries to make his case for a president - considered the most powerful job in Brussels - who can change the way the Commission is run, not deliver more of the same. | BBC political correspondent Vicki Young says that, in a highly unusual move, Mr Cameron has decided to appeal directly to voters in other EU countries to make his case for a president - considered the most powerful job in Brussels - who can change the way the Commission is run, not deliver more of the same. |
| In his newspaper article the prime minister says that, for many Europeans, the World Cup is the issue that seems most interesting right now. | In his newspaper article the prime minister says that, for many Europeans, the World Cup is the issue that seems most interesting right now. |
| "Only a small minority will be following the debate about the presidency of European Commission. | "Only a small minority will be following the debate about the presidency of European Commission. |
| "But this is important because it goes to the heart of the way the EU takes decisions, the need to respect its rules, and the appropriate relationship between the nations of Europe and the EU institutions. | "But this is important because it goes to the heart of the way the EU takes decisions, the need to respect its rules, and the appropriate relationship between the nations of Europe and the EU institutions. |
| "The results of last month's European elections showed people were disillusioned with the way the EU was working. | "The results of last month's European elections showed people were disillusioned with the way the EU was working. |
| "They are demanding change so it focuses on what they care about: growth and jobs. And they want the EU to help them, not dictate to them." | "They are demanding change so it focuses on what they care about: growth and jobs. And they want the EU to help them, not dictate to them." |
| This was clear, he wrote, through the rise of anti-EU parties, the fall in turnout in the majority of countries and the decline in support for the European Parliament's largest political groups. | This was clear, he wrote, through the rise of anti-EU parties, the fall in turnout in the majority of countries and the decline in support for the European Parliament's largest political groups. |
| Mr Cameron also said Europeans must focus on finding the best candidate for Commission president. | Mr Cameron also said Europeans must focus on finding the best candidate for Commission president. |
| The ideal candidate, he said, would be "someone who can deliver reform; driving growth and creating jobs; and accepting that Europe's needs may best be served by action at the national level". | The ideal candidate, he said, would be "someone who can deliver reform; driving growth and creating jobs; and accepting that Europe's needs may best be served by action at the national level". |
| "An honest and trusted broker able to re-engage Europe's voters." | "An honest and trusted broker able to re-engage Europe's voters." |
| Mr Cameron said that under the EU Treaties, it is for EU heads of government to propose the candidate to head the European Commission, and then MEPs vote on this candidate in a secret ballot. | Mr Cameron said that under the EU Treaties, it is for EU heads of government to propose the candidate to head the European Commission, and then MEPs vote on this candidate in a secret ballot. |
| However, the prime minister said, "certain MEPs have invented a new process whereby they are trying to both choose and elect the candidate. | However, the prime minister said, "certain MEPs have invented a new process whereby they are trying to both choose and elect the candidate. |
| He added that each of the main political groups ran "lead candidates" - so-called Spitzenkandidaten - during the elections and did "a back-room deal to join forces after the elections in support of the lead candidate of the party that won the most seats". | He added that each of the main political groups ran "lead candidates" - so-called Spitzenkandidaten - during the elections and did "a back-room deal to join forces after the elections in support of the lead candidate of the party that won the most seats". |
| Summit decision | Summit decision |
| This, Mr Cameron said, is not a process discussed by European institutions nor ratified by national parliaments. | This, Mr Cameron said, is not a process discussed by European institutions nor ratified by national parliaments. |
| Mr Juncker has been nominated for the top job at the European Commission by party groups in Europe. | Mr Juncker has been nominated for the top job at the European Commission by party groups in Europe. |
| The prime minister insists that his concerns are "not an attack on Mr Juncker, an experienced European politician, to say this is nonsense". | The prime minister insists that his concerns are "not an attack on Mr Juncker, an experienced European politician, to say this is nonsense". |
| "Most Europeans did not vote in the European Parliament elections. Turnout declined in the majority of member states. Nowhere was Mr Juncker on the ballot paper. | "Most Europeans did not vote in the European Parliament elections. Turnout declined in the majority of member states. Nowhere was Mr Juncker on the ballot paper. |
| "Even in Germany, where the concept of 'Spitzenkandidaten' got the most airtime, only 15% of voters even knew he was a candidate. He did not visit some member states. Those who voted did so to choose their MEP not the Commission president. | "Even in Germany, where the concept of 'Spitzenkandidaten' got the most airtime, only 15% of voters even knew he was a candidate. He did not visit some member states. Those who voted did so to choose their MEP not the Commission president. |
| "Mr Juncker did not stand anywhere and was not elected by anyone." | "Mr Juncker did not stand anywhere and was not elected by anyone." |
| A decision on who will become the next commission president is expected to be announced at an EU summit on 26-27 June, although an agreement by then is not guaranteed. | A decision on who will become the next commission president is expected to be announced at an EU summit on 26-27 June, although an agreement by then is not guaranteed. |