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| EU backs Juncker to head Commission in blow to UK | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| EU leaders meeting in Brussels have nominated former Luxembourg PM Jean-Claude Juncker as the next president of the European Commission. | |
| The move came despite strong opposition from Britain. | |
| Earlier UK Prime Minister David Cameron said "the odds are stacked against me" over Mr Juncker, but stressed that he would stick to his principles. | |
| He believes Mr Juncker is too much in favour of closer political union and might block EU reform. | He believes Mr Juncker is too much in favour of closer political union and might block EU reform. |
| He also objects to the way Mr Juncker, a 59-year-old veteran of Brussels deal-making, was put forward. He was lead candidate of the centre-right European People's Party (EPP), which won last month's European elections. | He also objects to the way Mr Juncker, a 59-year-old veteran of Brussels deal-making, was put forward. He was lead candidate of the centre-right European People's Party (EPP), which won last month's European elections. |
| "I've told EU leaders they could live to regret the new process for choosing the Commission President. I'll always stand up for UK interests," Mr Cameron tweeted after the decision. | |
| The UK Conservatives - who pulled out of the EPP - suspect that the Commission is being politicised in a power grab by the European Parliament. But Mr Juncker's supporters value his record of consensus-building and commitment to EU integration. | The UK Conservatives - who pulled out of the EPP - suspect that the Commission is being politicised in a power grab by the European Parliament. But 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. The parliament will vote on the nominee next month. | Under new EU treaty rules the leaders have to take account of the European election result when nominating a Commission chief. The parliament will vote on the nominee next month. |
| Mr Cameron sought an unprecedented summit vote on the appointment, which is usually made by consensus. | |
| But his bid to block Mr Juncker suffered a major setback this week when his allies changed tack. | But his bid to block Mr Juncker suffered a major setback this week when his allies changed tack. |
| German Chancellor Angela Merkel had given Mr Cameron hope after agreeing to a vote on the issue if there was no consensus. | German Chancellor Angela Merkel had given Mr Cameron hope after agreeing to a vote on the issue if there was no consensus. |
| But both the Netherlands and Sweden - normally close to UK positions in Europe - later said they would back Mr Juncker. | |
| In the past such sensitive appointments have been decided through informal negotiations in the European Council. | In the past such sensitive appointments have been decided through informal negotiations in 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 |
| The BBC's Chris Morris in Brussels says many European diplomats feel that Mr Cameron's approach in the EU is too confrontational, going against the grain of consensus decision-making in the union. | The BBC's Chris Morris in Brussels says many European diplomats feel that Mr Cameron's approach in the EU is too confrontational, going against the grain of consensus decision-making in the union. |
| There is speculation that the UK may get a powerful seat on the Commission as a "consolation prize", he says - for example, commissioner for the internal market. But UK officials say they are not negotiating for something else as a trade-off. | There is speculation that the UK may get a powerful seat on the Commission as a "consolation prize", he says - for example, commissioner for the internal market. But UK officials say they are not negotiating for something else as a trade-off. |
| Mr Cameron vowed to insist on a vote on Mr Juncker, so that EU leaders would have to justify their support for the veteran politician in public. | Mr Cameron vowed to insist on a vote on Mr Juncker, so that EU leaders would have to justify their support for the veteran politician in public. |
| Mr Cameron says he is determined to press ahead with renegotiation of Britain's EU membership, followed by an in/out referendum in the UK in 2017, if his Conservative Party wins next year's general election. | Mr Cameron says he is determined to press ahead with renegotiation of Britain's EU membership, followed by an in/out referendum in the UK in 2017, if his Conservative Party wins next year's general election. |
| "It is the opening step in a longer campaign to secure change in Europe, a better position for Britain in Europe, and a referendum that will be held before the end of 2017," he said. | "It is the opening step in a longer campaign to secure change in Europe, a better position for Britain in Europe, and a referendum that will be held before the end of 2017," he said. |
| The row comes a month after anti-EU parties made sweeping gains in European elections. They won nearly a third of the parliamentary seats. | The row comes a month after anti-EU parties made sweeping gains in European elections. They won nearly a third of the parliamentary seats. |
| In a landmark move on Friday the summit leaders signed far-reaching trade partnership deals with three former Soviet republics - Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova. | In a landmark move on Friday the summit leaders signed far-reaching trade partnership deals with three former Soviet republics - Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova. |
| The "association agreements" commit the countries to EU standards, including new customs regulations, quality controls and free market competition. | The "association agreements" commit the countries to EU standards, including new customs regulations, quality controls and free market competition. |
| Russia is suspicious of these agreements and is trying to draw ex-Soviet republics into its own customs union. A senior aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin told the BBC the deal was in breach of the Ukrainian constitution. | Russia is suspicious of these agreements and is trying to draw ex-Soviet republics into its own customs union. A senior aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin told the BBC the deal was in breach of the Ukrainian constitution. |
| Next steps | Next steps |
| 1-3 July - First post-election session of new European Parliament | 1-3 July - First post-election session of new European Parliament |
| 14-17 July - European Parliament votes on nominee for Commission president - expected to back Mr Juncker | 14-17 July - European Parliament votes on nominee for Commission president - expected to back Mr Juncker |
| September - Parliament grills each nominee for 28-member Commission (one from each member state) | September - Parliament grills each nominee for 28-member Commission (one from each member state) |
| October - Parliament votes on new Commission team | October - Parliament votes on new Commission team |
| November - New Commission should take office, as should new EU foreign policy chief and new European Council president. | November - New Commission should take office, as should new EU foreign policy chief and new European Council president. |