This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-28049375

The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 8 Version 9
EU backs Juncker to head Commission in blow to UK EU backs Juncker to head Commission in blow to UK
(35 minutes later)
EU leaders meeting in Brussels have nominated former Luxembourg PM Jean-Claude Juncker as the next president of the European Commission. EU leaders in Brussels have nominated former Luxembourg PM Jean-Claude Juncker to be president of the European Commission, in a blow to the UK.
The move came despite strong opposition from Britain. Prime Minister David Cameron called it "a serious mistake". "This is going to be a long, tough fight," he said.
Prime Minister David Cameron pushed for a vote on Mr Juncker - breaking with tradition - and 26 out of 28 countries backed him, UK officials said. He had pushed for a vote on Mr Juncker - breaking with tradition - and 26 out of 28 countries backed him.
Only Mr Cameron and Hungarian PM Viktor Orban voted against him. Mr Juncker is also likely to win a vote by Euro MPs.Only Mr Cameron and Hungarian PM Viktor Orban voted against him. Mr Juncker is also likely to win a vote by Euro MPs.
Mr Cameron believes Mr Juncker is too much in favour of closer political union and might block EU reform.
"This is a bad day for Europe... it hands new power to the European Parliament," Mr Cameron said.
"This whole process has simply reinforced my conviction that the EU has to change."
It is the most powerful job in Brussels - the Commission drafts EU laws, oversees national budgets, enforces EU treaties and negotiates international trade deals.It is the most powerful job in Brussels - the Commission drafts EU laws, oversees national budgets, enforces EU treaties and negotiates international trade deals.
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.
New procedureNew procedure
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. Mr Cameron objected 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. "I've told EU leaders they could live to regret the new process for choosing the Commission President," Mr Cameron tweeted after the decision.
He told them it was "a sad moment for Europe" and expressed his "disappointment it has reached this point". In the past such appointments were made by the EU leaders - called the European Council - by unanimity.He told them it was "a sad moment for Europe" and expressed his "disappointment it has reached this point". In the past such appointments were made by the EU leaders - called the European Council - by unanimity.
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 Mr Juncker in mid-July.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 Mr Juncker in mid-July.
Mr Cameron's bid to block Mr Juncker suffered a major setback this week when his allies changed tack.Mr Cameron's 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.But both the Netherlands and Sweden - normally close to UK positions in Europe - later said they would back Mr Juncker.
Speaking after the summit, Ms Merkel said there had been "no backroom agreement" but "a very good discussion" on Mr Juncker.
There was agreement that "the concerns the UK has will be addressed", she said. Once the new Commission team is in place there will be a review of how the Commission president is nominated, she added.
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 JunckerArguments 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.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.
Mr Cameron wanted a vote on Mr Juncker so that EU leaders would have to justify their support for the veteran politician in public.Mr Cameron wanted 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.
But the row over Mr Juncker may make that renegotiation more difficult, observers say.But the row over Mr Juncker may make that renegotiation more difficult, observers say.
"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," Mr Cameron 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," Mr Cameron 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 stepsNext steps
1-3 July - First post-election session of new European Parliament1-3 July - First post-election session of new European Parliament
14-17 July - European Parliament votes on nominee for Commission president - expected to back Mr Juncker14-17 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 teamOctober - 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.