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Merkel Plans to Ignore Cameron’s Resistance to Jean-Claude Juncker Merkel Plans to Ignore Cameron’s Resistance to Jean-Claude Juncker
(about 1 hour later)
BERLIN — Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany made it clear on Wednesday that Britain would fail if it tried to stop the nomination of Jean-Claude Juncker as the next head of the European Commission.BERLIN — Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany made it clear on Wednesday that Britain would fail if it tried to stop the nomination of Jean-Claude Juncker as the next head of the European Commission.
“It is no tragedy if we end up voting with only a qualified majority,” Ms. Merkel told Parliament, referring to the candidacy of Mr. Juncker, the former prime minister of Luxembourg. “It is no tragedy if we end up voting with only a qualified majority,” Ms. Merkel told Parliament, referring to a system of weighted voting on the candidacy of Mr. Juncker, the former prime minister of Luxembourg, that would replace the usual unanimous consensus among the leaders of the European Union.
Mr. Juncker led the center-right bloc that won last month’s European Parliament elections, but he is seen by Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain as the kind of remote technocrat who stirs anti-European Union sentiment. Anger at Brussels propelled nationalist and populist parties to their strongest showing in last month’s vote since E.U. elections started in 1979.Mr. Juncker led the center-right bloc that won last month’s European Parliament elections, but he is seen by Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain as the kind of remote technocrat who stirs anti-European Union sentiment. Anger at Brussels propelled nationalist and populist parties to their strongest showing in last month’s vote since E.U. elections started in 1979.
Mr. Cameron is sure to lose if he forces a vote on Mr. Juncker when European leaders meet in Brussels on Friday. Mr. Cameron spoke by telephone on Wednesday with Ms. Merkel and the Dutch prime minister, Mark Rutte, to underline his opposition to Mr. Juncker’s candidacy. In a statement, Mr. Cameron’s office said they agreed that if a consensus could not be reached, a vote should be held when European leaders meet in Brussels on Friday.
However, Mr. Cameron appears to believe that his position at home, where he must call elections by mid-2015, will be strengthened by a show of resistance to Brussels. Mr. Cameron has promised that if he is re-elected next year, he will hold a referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union by 2017, partly in response to pressure from within his own Conservative Party over Britain’s role in Europe. Mr. Cameron is sure to lose that vote, yet appears to believe that his position at home, where he must call elections by mid-2015, will be strengthened by a show of resistance to Brussels. Mr. Cameron has promised that if he is re-elected next year, he will hold a referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union by 2017, partly in response to pressure from within his own Conservative Party over Britain’s role in Europe.
In the past, Europe’s heads of government selected the commission candidate. But this year, the center-right bloc won support for its idea that the winner of last month’s elections should also capture the presidency. Mr. Cameron prefers the previous system and opposes the idea that a candidate like Mr. Juncker, selected by parties that contest European Parliament elections, should be nominated as commission president.
Ms. Merkel, a Christian Democrat, went out of her way this month to underscore Britain’s importance to the 28-nation European Union. Germany views Britain as a bastion of liberal economic thinking that helps dampen the statism of France and what Berlin views as the profligate tendencies of Southern European countries.Ms. Merkel, a Christian Democrat, went out of her way this month to underscore Britain’s importance to the 28-nation European Union. Germany views Britain as a bastion of liberal economic thinking that helps dampen the statism of France and what Berlin views as the profligate tendencies of Southern European countries.
She won strong backing for that pro-British view on Wednesday from her Social Democratic coalition partners, though it was qualified with support for Mr. Juncker’s candidacy. She won strong backing for that pro-British view on Wednesday from her Social emocratic coalition partners, though it was qualified with support for Mr. Juncker’s candidacy.
“No one wants Britain to leave the E.U.,” said Thomas Oppermann, the leader of the Social Democrats in Parliament. “But no one has the right to veto the choice of top candidate.”“No one wants Britain to leave the E.U.,” said Thomas Oppermann, the leader of the Social Democrats in Parliament. “But no one has the right to veto the choice of top candidate.”
Despite her pro-British sentiments, Ms. Merkel implicitly rebuked Mr. Cameron 10 days ago, criticizing anyone who used “threats” in an effort to impose his will on the European Union.Despite her pro-British sentiments, Ms. Merkel implicitly rebuked Mr. Cameron 10 days ago, criticizing anyone who used “threats” in an effort to impose his will on the European Union.
Ms. Merkel’s statement on Wednesday made it clear that Germany, without which nothing gets settled in European politics, favors using the option of a qualified majority to settle the debate over Mr. Juncker. Ms. Merkel’s statement on Wednesday made it clear that Germany, without which nothing gets settled in European politics, favors using the option of a vote to settle the debate over Mr. Juncker.
The leaders are expected to discuss and approve his nomination on Friday, one day after opening their summit meeting with a visit to the World War I battlefields of Ypres, Belgium, to mark the 100th anniversary of the conflict. Ms. Merkel also made it clear that she would rebuff any attempts by France and Italy to relax stringent budgetary rules. The two countries have been seeking more time to implement changes that would curb government spending.
Ms. Merkel also made clear that she would rebuff any attempts by France and Italy to relax stringent budgetary rules. The two countries have been seeking more time to implement changes that would curb government spending.