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Jean-Claude Juncker 'will address UK concerns' | Jean-Claude Juncker 'will address UK concerns' |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Jean-Claude Juncker has told David Cameron he is "fully committed to finding solutions for the political concerns of the UK", No 10 has said. | Jean-Claude Juncker has told David Cameron he is "fully committed to finding solutions for the political concerns of the UK", No 10 has said. |
The PM called the European Commission president-designate and the pair discussed working together to "make the EU more competitive and more flexible". | The PM called the European Commission president-designate and the pair discussed working together to "make the EU more competitive and more flexible". |
"The PM welcomed Mr Juncker's commitment of finding a fair deal for Britain," the No 10 spokesman said. | "The PM welcomed Mr Juncker's commitment of finding a fair deal for Britain," the No 10 spokesman said. |
It comes after Mr Cameron was defeated in an EU vote over the new president. | It comes after Mr Cameron was defeated in an EU vote over the new president. |
Mr Cameron tried to block Mr Juncker's appointment by forcing a vote on the selection of the former Luxembourg prime minister, who is seen as a backer of closer political union. | Mr Cameron tried to block Mr Juncker's appointment by forcing a vote on the selection of the former Luxembourg prime minister, who is seen as a backer of closer political union. |
But EU states voted 26-2 to appoint him, in what Mr Cameron described as "a bad day for Europe". | But EU states voted 26-2 to appoint him, in what Mr Cameron described as "a bad day for Europe". |
Analysis: Chris Mason, BBC political correspondent | Analysis: Chris Mason, BBC political correspondent |
The prime minister has this idea of reforming the UK's relationship with the EU - he wants to put a reformed relationship to a referendum in 2017, if he's still prime minister then. And one of the most important people he has to deal with in securing that is Jean-Claude Juncker (pictured). | The prime minister has this idea of reforming the UK's relationship with the EU - he wants to put a reformed relationship to a referendum in 2017, if he's still prime minister then. And one of the most important people he has to deal with in securing that is Jean-Claude Juncker (pictured). |
It's clearly widely publicly known that he didn't want this man in the job - but he lost that argument so now he has to build a relationship with someone from - let's put it gently - not the best starting point, and that starts with this kind of conversation. | It's clearly widely publicly known that he didn't want this man in the job - but he lost that argument so now he has to build a relationship with someone from - let's put it gently - not the best starting point, and that starts with this kind of conversation. |
I suppose Downing Street would emphasise that in democracy sometimes you don't win but that means that you have to congratulate those that have - and you have to work with them. | I suppose Downing Street would emphasise that in democracy sometimes you don't win but that means that you have to congratulate those that have - and you have to work with them. |
They will also point to the fact that any prime minister will always have conversations with, and relationships with, political leaders with whom they don't share a huge amount with in the first instance. | They will also point to the fact that any prime minister will always have conversations with, and relationships with, political leaders with whom they don't share a huge amount with in the first instance. |
A Downing Street spokesman said: "The prime minister called the Commission President-designate, Jean-Claude Juncker, this afternoon. | A Downing Street spokesman said: "The prime minister called the Commission President-designate, Jean-Claude Juncker, this afternoon. |
"The prime minister congratulated Mr Juncker on running a successful campaign and securing the council nomination. They discussed how they would work together to make the EU more competitive and more flexible. | "The prime minister congratulated Mr Juncker on running a successful campaign and securing the council nomination. They discussed how they would work together to make the EU more competitive and more flexible. |
"The PM welcomed Mr Juncker's commitment of finding a fair deal for Britain and Mr Juncker said that he was fully committed to finding solutions for the political concerns of the UK." | "The PM welcomed Mr Juncker's commitment of finding a fair deal for Britain and Mr Juncker said that he was fully committed to finding solutions for the political concerns of the UK." |
The phone call comes after Mr Cameron was criticised by other UK political leaders over the defeat. | The phone call comes after Mr Cameron was criticised by other UK political leaders over the defeat. |
Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls said Mr Cameron's failed bid to block Mr Juncker's appointment was a "catastrophe for Britain and the British national interest", adding: "I've never seen a negotiation so cack-handed." | Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls said Mr Cameron's failed bid to block Mr Juncker's appointment was a "catastrophe for Britain and the British national interest", adding: "I've never seen a negotiation so cack-handed." |
"We won't be influential in the world, unless we are influential in Europe," he told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show. | "We won't be influential in the world, unless we are influential in Europe," he told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show. |
'Indispensable for Europe' | |
His comments came after Confederation of British Industry (CBI) director general John Cridland warned the success of the UK economy depended on it staying in the EU. | His comments came after Confederation of British Industry (CBI) director general John Cridland warned the success of the UK economy depended on it staying in the EU. |
But Foreign Secretary William Hague insisted it was "far too early" to say if the government would fail in its bid to renegotiate Britain's agreement with Brussels. | But Foreign Secretary William Hague insisted it was "far too early" to say if the government would fail in its bid to renegotiate Britain's agreement with Brussels. |
Meanwhile Germany's finance minister has told the Financial Times a British exit from the EU is "unimaginable" and "absolutely not acceptable". | |
Wolfgang Schauble said his country would do everything in its power to keep Britain in the union | |
"Clearly, we have in many economic questions and regulatory questions a broad consensus," he said. | |
"Historically, politically, democratically, culturally, Great Britain is entirely indispensable for Europe." |