Jean-Claude Juncker

Juncker was born in Redange and spent the majority of his childhood in Belvaux. His father, Joseph, was a steel worker and Christian trade unionist who was forcibly conscripted into the German Wehrmacht during World War II, following the Nazi occupation of Luxembourg.{{cite news |author1=SPIEGEL staff |title=Commission Crusade: Cameron Outmaneuvered in Battle over Juncker |url=https://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/cameron-and-juncker-fight-over-role-in-european-commission-a-975528.html |access-date=3 September 2019 |work=Spiegel Online |quote= his 90-year-old father burst into tears when a tabloid accused him of Nazi association. (The older Juncker was forceably recruited into the Wehrmacht following the occupation of Luxembourg.) |date=19 June 2014}} Juncker has often remarked that the horrors of war he heard from his father's experiences had a profound influence in shaping his views on the need for European reconciliation and integration.{{cite news |title=Portrait: Into the mind of Jean-Claude Juncker |url=https://www.euronews.com/2014/05/09/portrait-into-the-mind-of-jean-claude-juncker |access-date=3 September 2019 |work=euronews |date=9 May 2014 |language=en}}{{cite speech |last=Juncker |first=Jean-Claude |title=The State of Europe |event=Lecture |date=11 December 2006 |location=University of Luxembourg |publisher=CVCE.EU by UNI.LU |url=https://www.cvce.eu/en/collections/unit-content/-/unit/a92fd1a5-f658-4ccd-84ec-9cae94c6ea76/6b741edb-e01f-419d-9df3-858f4d106cfe |access-date=3 September 2019 |language=en}} His mother was born Marguerite Hecker.{{cite news |title=Juncker delivers keynote EU speech after mother's death |url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-eu-juncker-mother/juncker-delivers-keynote-eu-speech-after-mothers-death-idUKKCN0R90UW20150909 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190704144013/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-eu-juncker-mother/juncker-delivers-keynote-eu-speech-after-mothers-death-idUKKCN0R90UW20150909 |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 July 2019 |access-date=3 September 2019 |work=Reuters |date=9 September 2015 |language=en}} He studied at the Roman Catholic école apostolique (secondary school) at Clairefontaine on the edge of Arlon in Belgium, before returning to Luxembourg to study for his Baccalaureate at Lycée Michel Rodange. He joined the Christian Social People's Party in 1974. He studied law at the University of Strasbourg, graduating with a master's degree in 1979; although he was sworn into the Luxembourg Bar Council in 1980, he never practised as a lawyer.

Juncker grew up in Belvaux, in the commune of Sanem in the canton of Esch-sur-Alzette in the south of Luxembourg. Dominated by coal and steel manufacturing, the neighbourhood was home to a multicultural workforce of Italian and Portuguese immigrants. This social environment influenced Juncker's way of thinking and his ideology of integration and togetherness.

Juncker's father was heavily wounded during his service in the Wehrmacht at the Eastern Front, which left him visibly scarred. Throughout his life, Joseph Juncker was also a member of the Christian Labour Union, and he took his son to several union and party meetings, which impacted his son's political views even in his early days. Having come from a poor family, he made central to his political ideology the fight against social inequalities, and for equal opportunities and fairness for all people. Jean-Claude went to a Jesuit Boarding school close to the border of Belgium; as a schoolboy, Juncker negotiated and debated with the school's administrators on behalf of his classmates. Juncker was one of twelve children in a large household, where money was tight; he learned from a young age the importance of saving. This experience proved useful during his later role as Minister of Finance.Kopeinig, Margaretha. Jean-Claude Juncker: Der Europäer. Wien: Czernin, 2004.p.23ff

File:Juncker 1985.jpg in 1985.]]

Following Juncker's graduation from the University of Strasbourg, he was appointed as a Parliamentary Secretary. He later won election to the Chamber of Deputies for the first time in 1984 and was immediately appointed to the Cabinet of Prime Minister Jacques Santer as Minister of Labour.{{cite web|title=Jean-Claude Juncker|url=http://www.eu2005.lu/en/presidence/membres/juncker/|website=eu2005.lu|access-date=5 September 2015}} In the second half of 1985, Luxembourg held the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Communities, permitting Juncker to develop his European leadership qualities as chair of the Social Affairs and Budget Councils. It was here that Juncker's pro-Europe credentials first emerged.

Shortly before the 1989 election, Juncker was seriously injured in a road accident, spending two weeks in a coma. He has stated that the accident has caused him difficulty with balancing since.{{cite news |last1=Quatremer |first1=Jean |title=Jean-Claude Juncker, verre de rage |url=http://www.liberation.fr/planete/2016/09/13/jean-claude-juncker-verre-de-rage_1495839 |work=Libération.fr |date=13 September 2016 |language=fr}} He nonetheless recovered in time to be returned to the Chamber of Deputies once more, after which he was promoted to become Minister for Finance, a post traditionally seen as a rite of passage to the country's premiership. His eventual promotion to prime minister seemed at this time inevitable, with political commentators concluding that Santer was grooming Juncker as his successor. Juncker at this time also accepted the position of Luxembourg's representative on the 188-member Board of Governors of the World Bank.

Juncker's second election to Parliament, in 1989, saw him gain prominence within the European Union; Juncker chaired the Council of Economic and Financial Affairs (ECOFIN), during Luxembourg's 1991 presidency of the Council of the European Communities, becoming a key architect of the Maastricht Treaty. Juncker was largely responsible for clauses on Economic and Monetary Union, the process that would eventually give rise to the euro, as well as in particular is credited with devising the "opt-out" principle for the UK to assuage its concerns. Juncker was himself a signatory to the Treaty in 1992, having, by that time, taken over as parliamentary leader of the Christian Social People's Party.

Juncker was re-elected to the Chamber in 1994, maintaining his ministerial role. With Santer ready to be nominated as the next President of the European Commission, it was only six months later that Grand Duke Jean approved the appointment of Juncker as Prime Minister on 20 January 1995, as part of a coalition with the Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party. Juncker relinquished his post at the World Bank at this time but maintained his position as Minister for Finance.

File:Flickr - europeanpeoplesparty - EPP Summit 16 June 2005 (6).jpg on 16 June 2005]]

File:President George W. Bush meets with Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker of Luxembourg in the Oval Office.jpg (2005)]]

File:Vladimir Putin in Luxembourg 24 May 2007-22.jpg and Jean Asselborn on 24 May 2007]]

Juncker's first term as prime minister was focused on an economic platform of international bilateral ties to improve Luxembourg's profile abroad, which included a number of official visits abroad. During one such visit, to Dublin in December 1996, Juncker successfully mediated a dispute over his own EU Economic and Monetary Union policy between French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Helmut Kohl. The press dubbed Juncker the "Hero of Dublin" for achieving an unlikely consensus between the two.{{cite web|title=Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker to Present Distinguished Lecture at Pitt April 10|url=http://www.news.pitt.edu/news/luxembourg-prime-minister-jean-claude-juncker-present-distinguished-lecture-pitt-april-10|website=news.pitt.edu|access-date=5 September 2015}}

1997 brought the rotating Presidency of the European Council to Luxembourg, during which time Juncker championed the cause of social integration in Europe, along with constituting the so-called "Luxembourg Process" for integrated European policy against unemployment. He also instigated the "Euro 11", an informal group of European finance ministers for matters regarding his Economic and Monetary Union ideals. For all of these initiatives, he was honoured with the Vision for Europe Award in 1998.{{cite web|title=Jean-Claude Juncker as Head of the EPP|url=http://www.democraticunion.eu/2014/03/jean-claude-juncker-head-epp/|website=democraticunion|access-date=5 September 2015}}

Juncker succeeded in winning another term as prime minister in the 1999 election, although the coalition with the Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party was broken in favour of one with the Democratic Party. After the 2004 election, the Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party became the second largest party again, and Juncker again formed a coalition with them.

In 2005, Juncker inherited a second term as President of the European Council. Shortly after the expiration of his term came Luxembourg's referendum on ratification, and Juncker staked his political career on its success, promising to resign if the referendum failed. The final result was a 56.5% Yes vote on an 88% turnout. His continued allegiance to European ideals earned him the 2006 Karlspreis. In 2009, he denounced the lifting of the excommunication of controversial Bishop Richard Williamson, a member of the Society of Saint Pius X.{{cite web |url=http://www.gouvernement.lu/salle_presse/actualite/2009/02-fevrier/04-juncker-pape/ |title=Réaction de Jean-Claude Juncker à la réhabilitation par le pape d'un évêque négationniste |publisher=Gouvernement.lu |access-date=20 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110040547/http://www.gouvernement.lu/salle_presse/actualite/2009/02-fevrier/04-juncker-pape/ |archive-date=10 November 2012 }}

File:Flickr - europeanpeoplesparty - EPP Summit 29 October 2009 (89).jpg on 29 October 2009]]

Juncker supported the 2011 military intervention in Libya. Juncker added that he wanted NATO to take control of coalition military efforts in Libya as soon as possible.{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-23/juncker-calls-for-nato-to-assume-control-of-libya-no-fly-zone.html|agency=Bloomberg L.P.|date=24 March 2011|title=Juncker Calls for NATO to Assume Control of Libya No-Fly Zone|first=Stephanie|last=Bodoni}}

On 19 November 2012, RTL Télé Lëtzebuerg aired a story alleging that the former head of the State Intelligence Service (SREL), Marco Mille, had used a wristwatch to covertly record a confidential conversation with Juncker in 2008.{{cite news |title=Premier Juncker: Vum Geheimdéngscht mat Auer ofgelauschtert! |url=https://www.rtl.lu/news/national/a/349583.html |work=rtl.lu |date=26 November 2013 |language=lb}}{{cite news | first = James | last = Neuger | title = Secrets and Lies in Luxembourg | date = 11 July 2013 | url = http://go.bloomberg.com/euro-crisis/2013-07-11/secrets-and-lies-in-luxembourg/ | work = Bloomberg News | access-date = 16 July 2013}} According to the report, although Juncker had later found out about the recording, he took no action against Mille and allowed him to leave the service in 2010 for a position with Siemens.{{cite news | title = Juncker tapped by secret service in 2008 | date = 20 November 2012 | url = http://www.wort.lu/en/view/juncker-tapped-by-secret-service-in-2008-50ab464be4b0903ded4ea812 | work = Luxemburger Wort | access-date = 16 July 2013}} A transcript of the conversation was published by D'Lëtzebuerger Land, which highlighted the disorganised state of the secret service, mentioned links between Grand Duke Henri and MI6 and referred to the "Bommeleeër" scandal.{{cite news | title = Secret recording alleges ties between Grand Duke and British Secret Service | date = 30 November 2012 | url = http://www.wort.lu/en/view/secret-recording-alleges-ties-between-grand-duke-and-british-secret-service-50b8dfc1e4b07fdda78c86af | work = Luxemburger Wort | access-date = 16 July 2013}}{{cite news | title = Wer bespitzelte Juncker und Henri? | date = 30 November 2012 | url = http://www.tageblatt.lu/nachrichten/story/29078799 | work = Tageblatt | access-date = 16 July 2013 | language = de}} On 4 December 2012, the Chamber of Deputies voted to set up a Parliamentary Inquiry into allegations of SREL misconduct including the illegal bugging of politicians, purchase of cars for private use and allegations of taking payments and favours in exchange for access to officials.{{cite news | title = Parliament to launch enquiry into secret service activities | date = 4 December 2012 | url = http://www.wort.lu/en/view/parliament-to-launch-enquiry-into-secret-service-activities-50be0febe4b01bf23d29beca | work = Luxemburger Wort | access-date = 16 July 2013}}{{cite news|title=Luxembourg PM Juncker offers government resignation|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23275318|access-date=11 July 2013|newspaper=BBC News|date=11 July 2013}} The inquiry heard from witnesses who claimed that SREL had conducted six or seven illegal wiretapping operations between 2007 and 2009, as well as covert operations in Iraq, Cuba and Libya.{{cite news | title = SREL director reveals illegal wire tapping | date = 13 January 2013 | url = http://www.wort.lu/en/view/srel-director-reveals-illegal-wire-tapping-50f04c3fe4b0092f07fcc33d | work = Luxemburger Wort | access-date = 16 July 2013}}{{cite news | first = Frances | last = Robinson | title = Luxembourg Juncker: Secret Service Wasn't My Top Priority | date = 10 July 2013 | url = https://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20130710-705476.html | work = Wall Street Journal | access-date = 16 July 2013}} The report concluded that Juncker had to bear political responsibility for SREL's activities, that he had been deficient in his control over the service and that he had failed to report all of the service's irregularities to the enquiry commission.{{cite news | title = Enquiry commission to debate Juncker's responsibility in secret service scandal | date = 21 June 2013 | url = http://www.wort.lu/en/view/enquiry-commission-to-debate-juncker-s-responsibility-in-secret-service-scandal-51c3ffd8e4b0c46958612330 | work = Luxemburger Wort | access-date = 16 July 2013 | archive-date = 16 October 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131016091914/http://www.wort.lu/en/view/enquiry-commission-to-debate-juncker-s-responsibility-in-secret-service-scandal-51c3ffd8e4b0c46958612330 | url-status = dead }} Juncker himself denied wrongdoing.{{cite news|title=Luxembourg spying scandal breaks Juncker government|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-luxembourg-government-spying-idUSBRE9690U520130710|access-date=11 July 2013|newspaper=Reuters|date=10 July 2013}}

File:Flickr - Αντώνης Σαμαράς - Jean Claude Juncker.jpg on 22 August 2012]]

After a seven-hour debate in the Chamber of Deputies on 10 July, the withdrawal of support from the Christian Social People's Party's coalition partner, the Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party (LSAP), forced Juncker to agree to new elections.{{cite news | title = Luxembourg Prime Minister Juncker calls for new elections amid scandal | date = 10 July 2013 | url = http://www.dw.de/luxembourg-prime-minister-juncker-calls-for-new-elections-amid-scandal/a-16943926 | work = Deutsche Welle | access-date = 16 July 2013}} Alex Bodry, President of LSAP and Chair of the Parliamentary Inquiry into SREL, declared his lack of confidence in Juncker, saying: "We invite the prime minister to take full political responsibility in this context and ask the government to intervene with the head of state to clear the path for new elections." Juncker tendered his resignation to the Grand Duke on 11 July. After the election, the CSV entered the opposition for the first time in 34 years and Juncker was succeeded on 4 December 2013 by Xavier Bettel.{{cite news |title=Junker passes Prime Minister baton to Xavier Bettel |url=https://luxtimes.lu/archives/19752-junker-passes-prime-minister-baton-to-xavier-bettel |access-date=4 September 2019 |work=luxtimes.lu |language=en}}

In 2004, the Eurogroup of eurozone finance ministers decided to replace the rotating chairmanship with a permanent president. Juncker was appointed as the first permanent president and assumed the chair on 1 January 2005. He was re-appointed for a second term in September 2006.{{cite news|url=http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200609/09/eng20060909_301052.html|title=Juncker re-elected Eurogroup president, voicing optimism over economic growth|newspaper=People's Daily|date=9 September 2006|access-date=29 June 2014}} Under the Lisbon Treaty, this system was formalised and Juncker was confirmed for another term.{{cite news |last1=Willis |first1=Andrew |title=Luxembourg leader set to extend euro zone reign |url=http://euobserver.com/economic/29083 |access-date=29 June 2014 |work=EUobserver |date=2 December 2009 |language=en}} Juncker stepped down on 21 January 2013, when he was succeeded by Dutch Finance Minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem.{{cite news |last1=Fox |first1=Benjamin |title=Dijsselbloem to replace Juncker as Eurogroup chief |url=https://euobserver.com/economic/118688 |access-date=4 September 2019 |work=EUobserver |date=10 January 2013 |language=en}}

File:Flickr - europeanpeoplesparty - EPP Summit 15 December 2005 (17).jpg and José Manuel Barroso]]

During his period as "Mr. Euro", the group was instrumental in negotiating and supervising bailout packages for the countries that faced bankruptcy: Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and Cyprus.{{cite web|url=http://euobserver.com/eu-elections/124789|title=Who is Jean-Claude Juncker?|publisher=EUobserver|date=27 June 2014|access-date=29 June 2014}}

Juncker was also an outspoken proponent of enhanced internal cooperation and increased international representation of the group.{{cite news |last1=Willis |first1=Andrew |title=Juncker wants more eurozone activism |url=http://euobserver.com/economic/29294 |work=EUobserver |date=19 January 2010 |language=en}}

In a debate in 2011, during the height of the eurozone crisis, Juncker responded to a conference-goer's suggestion to increase the openness of the strategy discussions in the eurogroup, by stating: "When it becomes serious you have to lie".{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vi9qG3YbiWg| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211117/vi9qG3YbiWg| archive-date=17 November 2021 | url-status=live|title=Economic policy of the eurozone needs to be decided in "dark, secret rooms"|date=21 April 2011|publisher=EUobserverTV|access-date=29 June 2014}}{{cbignore}} Scholars of financial markets have remarked that the quote is often taken out of context by critics; best practice amongst monetary policy committees in most states is to keep negotiations on decisions confidential to prevent markets from betting against troubled countries until they are finalised. This need is complicated by the Eurozone's arrangements, in which policy negotiations are held in high-profile international summits of Eurozone finance ministers, where leaks of ongoing negotiations may potentially put "millions of people at risk". Indeed, the quote continues;

{{Blockquote

|text=Monetary policy is a serious issue. We should discuss this in secret, in the Eurogroup. ... The same applies to economic and monetary policies in the Union. If we indicate possible decisions, we are fuelling speculations on the financial markets and we are throwing in misery mainly the people we are trying to safeguard from this. ... I'm ready to be insulted as being insufficiently democratic, but I want to be serious, ... I am for secret, dark debates.

|sign=Juncker, on the constraints to openness from market actors during the financial crisis, 20 April 2011.[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/10967168/Jean-Claude-Junckers-most-outrageous-political-quotations.html Jean-Claude Juncker's most outrageous political quotations]", The Daily Telegraph, The Foreign Staff, 15 July 2014. Retrieved 8 November 2014. This comment has been considered a quip."[http://euobserver.com/9/32222 Eurogroup chief: 'I'm for secret, dark debates']", EUobserver, 21 April 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2011.

}}

He further stated that when asked by a journalist to comment on those meetings he had had to lie, making clear it went against his personal moral conviction as a Catholic.{{cite news |last1=Pop |first1=Valentina |title=Eurogroup chief: 'I'm for secret, dark debates' |url=http://euobserver.com/economic/32222 |access-date=29 June 2014 |work=EUobserver |date=21 April 2011 |language=en}}

{{Main|Juncker Commission}}

File:Jean-Claude Juncker (13598019925).jpg

For the first time in 2014, the President of the European Commission was appointed under the new provisions established with the Treaty of Lisbon, which had entered into force after the 2009 Elections to the European Parliament, on 1 December 2009. Juncker's aide Martin Selmayr played a central role in his campaign and later during his presidency as Juncker's campaign director, head of Juncker's transition team and finally as Juncker's head of cabinet (chief of staff).

File:Laophorium Ioannis Claudii Juncker anno 2014.jpg

Almost all major European political parties put forward a lead candidate, or spitzenkandidat for their respective election campaign. At the election Congress of the European People's Party (EPP), held in Dublin on 6–7 March, Jean-Claude Juncker was elected the party's lead candidate for President of the commission, defeating Michel Barnier. The congress also adopted the EPP election manifesto, which was used by Juncker during his campaign.{{cite news|title=EPP Elections Congress Dublin: highlights of final day|url=http://www.epp.eu/epp-elections-congress-dublin-highlights-final-day|access-date=14 July 2014|publisher=EPP|date=7 March 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140723192017/http://www.epp.eu/epp-elections-congress-dublin-highlights-final-day|archive-date=23 July 2014}}{{cite news|title=Jean-Claude Juncker elected as EPP candidate for President of the European Commission|url=http://www.epp.eu/jean-claude-juncker-elected-epp-candidate-president-european-commission|access-date=14 July 2014|publisher=EPP|date=7 March 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140710213616/http://www.epp.eu/jean-claude-juncker-elected-epp-candidate-president-european-commission|archive-date=10 July 2014}}{{cite web|url=https://juncker.epp.eu|title=Jean-Claude Juncker: Experience. Solidarity. Future.|publisher=European People's Party|access-date=8 February 2021|archive-date=17 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117130239/http://juncker.epp.eu/|url-status=dead}}

{{Further|2014 European Parliament election}}

In the main debate between the candidates, transmitted live throughout Europe on 16 May via the European Broadcasting Union, all candidates agreed that it would be unacceptable if the European Council would propose someone as Commission President who had not publicly campaigned for the position ahead of the election.{{cite web|title=Eurovision debate| date=16 May 2014 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0y-2Nd6mC9M|publisher=European Parliament|access-date=14 July 2014}}

In the 22–25 May elections, the EPP won the most parliamentary seats of all parties (221 of 751) but was short of a majority in its own right.{{cite web|title=Results of the 2014 European elections|url=http://www.results-elections2014.eu/en/election-results-2014.html|publisher=European Parliament|access-date=14 July 2014}}

On 27 May, the leaders of five of the seven political groups of the parliament issued a statement that Jean-Claude Juncker, being the lead candidate of the party which won a plurality of the seats, should be given the first attempt to form the required majority to be elected Commission President. Only the ECR and EFD disagreed to this process.{{cite news |last1=Nielsen |first1=Nikolaj |title=Juncker given first shot at EU commission job |url=http://euobserver.com/eu-elections/124388 |access-date=14 July 2014 |work=EUobserver |date=27 May 2014 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Conference of Presidents statement on Commission President election {{!}} News {{!}} European Parliament |url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20140527IPR48501/html/Conference-of-Presidents-statement-on-Commission-President-election |website=www.europarl.europa.eu |access-date=14 July 2014 |language=en |date=27 May 2014}}

File:EPP Brussels Summit; Mar. 2014 (13286858885).jpg, EPP summit in Brussels, 20 March 2014]]

Later on 27 May, the European Council gave its president, Herman van Rompuy, the mandate to start consultations with the group leaders in the European Parliament to identify the best possible candidate. Having less influence over the appointment than under pre-Lisbon law, the Council instead made use of its right to set the strategic priorities and included discussions with Parliament leaders and Council members alike for a strategic agenda for the upcoming period in Rompuy's mandate.

{{cite web|title=Remarks by President Herman Van Rompuy following the informal dinner of Heads of State or Government|url=http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ec/142862.pdf|access-date=14 July 2014|website=www.europarl.europa.eu |date=27 May 2014}}

During the consultations, Juncker and the EPP agreed to cooperation with the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), the second largest group in the new parliament, as well as secured the backing of all but two member state leaders. In return for their support, the centre-left group and state leaders secured promises of a shift in focus away from austerity towards growth and job creation for the coming period, as well as promises of some of the top jobs.{{cite news|title=Loosen EU budget rules in return for support, Socialists tell Juncker|url=http://euobserver.com/eu-elections/124634|access-date=14 July 2014|publisher=EUobserver|date=17 June 2014}}{{cite news |last=Traynor |first=Ian |date=17 June 2014 |title=Italian PM seeks austerity relief in return for Juncker backing |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/17/italian-pm-renzi-austerity-juncker-europe |access-date=14 July 2014 |newspaper=The Guardian}}{{cite news |last=Pop |first=Valentina |date=23 June 2014 |title=Centre-right to strike deal with centre-left on Juncker, Schulz |url=http://euobserver.com/eu-elections/124688 |access-date=14 July 2014 |publisher=EUobserver}}{{cite news|title=Socialist leaders back Juncker, want other top jobs|url=http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-elections-2014/socialist-leaders-back-juncker-want-other-top-jobs-302977|access-date=14 July 2014|publisher=EurActiv|date=23 June 2014}}

File:Tsipras and Junker.jpg in Brussels in March 2015]]

File:Vice President Joe Biden with Jean-Claude Juncker.jpg in June 2015]]

File:Jean-Claude Juncker, Vladimir Putin and Angela Merkel at COP26.jpg and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in November 2015]]

File:G7 summit at Shimakan.jpg leaders in Japan, 26 May 2016]]

File:Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the President European Council Donald Tusk, and the President European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, at the EU-INDIA Summit.jpg with Juncker and Donald Tusk at the EU-India Summit, Brussels, 2016]]

File:President Trump's Trip Abroad (34502607780).jpg and U.S. President Donald Trump in Brussels, 25 May 2017.]]

File:Візит Зеленського до інституцій ЄС і НАТО у Брюсселі, 2019, 21.jpg in Brussels in June 2019]]

The European Council officially proposed Juncker to Parliament as a candidate for the presidency on 27 June, together with a strategic agenda that set out policy priorities for the upcoming Commission mandate period.{{cite news|title=Strategic agenda for the Union in times of change|url=http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ec/143477.pdf|access-date=14 July 2014|publisher=European Council|date=27 June 2014}}

For the first time, the nomination was not by consensus, but the European Council voted 26–2 to propose Juncker for the position. Voting against were British PM David Cameron (Conservative Party / AECR) and Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán (Fidesz / EPP), both of whom had frequently opposed Juncker during the election process. Prior to the vote, various media had reported the heads of government of Sweden, Netherlands and Germany were also having similar concerns regarding either the candidate himself, or the way the nomination process was conducted.{{cite news|title=Merkel meets Juncker opponents in Sweden mini-summit|url=http://www.dw.de/merkel-meets-juncker-opponents-in-sweden-mini-summit/a-17694368|access-date=14 July 2014|publisher=DW|date=10 June 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140714223740/http://www.dw.de/merkel-meets-juncker-opponents-in-sweden-mini-summit/a-17694368 |archive-date=14 July 2014 }}{{cite news|title=The battle for the European Commission – Has Merkel lost her touch?|url=https://www.economist.com/blogs/charlemagne/2014/06/battle-european-commission |url-access=subscription |access-date=14 July 2014|newspaper=Economist|date=3 June 2014}} This was however never confirmed by the politicians in question.

Once Juncker had been nominated by the Council he started visiting all of the political groups of the European Parliament in order to explain his visions as well as gain their support in order to get appointed as Commission President. The purpose was also to show that he had understood some criticism levelled by Eurosceptics in Brussels. This was demonstrated when the former prime minister of Luxembourg told the ECR lawmakers that "[d]espite what you may read in the British press, I do not want a United States of Europe," as well as "I do not believe that Europe can be constructed against the nation state."{{cite web|url=http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-elections-2014/juncker-tells-parliament-eurosceptics-he-no-federalist-303365|title=Juncker tells Parliament Eurosceptics he is no federalist|work=EurActiv |agency=Reuters |date=9 July 2014|access-date=3 March 2015}}

On 15 July, Juncker presented his political programme to the European Parliament in plenary. Following a debate, the MEPs appointed Juncker to the position of Commission President with 422 votes in favour, well over the 376 required, and 250 votes against.{{cite news|title=Parliament elects Jean-Claude Juncker as Commission President|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20140714IPR52341/html/Parliament-elects-Jean-Claude-Juncker-as-Commission-President|access-date=15 July 2014|publisher=European Parliament|date=15 July 2014}}

{{see also|Accession of Turkey to the European Union|European Union–Turkey relations}}

On 25 July 2016, Juncker said that Turkey was not in a position to become a member of the European Union in the near future and that accession negotiations between the EU and Turkey would be stopped immediately if the death penalty was brought back.{{cite web |url =https://www.reuters.com/article/world/turkey-in-no-position-to-become-eu-member-any-time-soon-juncker-idUSKCN1050L9/ |title =Turkey in no position to become EU member any time soon: Juncker |language =en |date =July 25, 2016 |work =Reuters }}

In early November 2014, just days after becoming head of the commission, Juncker was hit by media disclosures—derived from a document leak known as LuxLeaks—that Luxembourg under his premiership had turned into a major European centre of corporate tax avoidance. With the aid of the Luxembourg government, companies transferred tax liability for many billions of euros to Luxembourg, where the income was taxed at a fraction of 1%. Juncker, who in a speech in Brussels in July 2014 promised to "try to put some morality, some ethics, into the European tax landscape", was sharply criticised following the leaks.{{cite news |last1=Bowers |first1=Simon |title=Luxembourg tax files: how tiny state rubber-stamped tax avoidance on an industrial scale |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/nov/05/-sp-luxembourg-tax-files-tax-avoidance-industrial-scale |access-date=12 December 2014 |newspaper=The Guardian |date=5 November 2014}} A subsequent motion of censure in the European Parliament was brought against Juncker over his role in the tax avoidance schemes. The motion was defeated by a large majority.{{cite news |last1=Traynor |first1=Ian |title=Jean-Claude Juncker saved from censure over Luxembourg tax schemes |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/27/meps-reject-censure-motion-jean-claude-juncker-luxembourg-tax-avoidance |access-date=3 March 2015 |newspaper=The Guardian |date=27 November 2014}} During his tenure, Juncker also oversaw the 2014 opening of the Luxembourg Freeport, which former German Member of European Parliament Wolf Klinz dubbed "fertile ground for money laundering and tax evasion".{{Cite news|title=Europe isn't ready to take hard line on terror financing |url=https://www.upi.com/Top_News/Voices/2019/12/30/Europe-isnt-ready-to-take-hard-line-on-terror-financing/4211577715827/|access-date=3 July 2020|website=UPI |date=30 December 2018 |first=L. Todd |last=Wood}}

In January 2017, leaked diplomatic cables showed that Juncker, as Luxembourg's prime minister from 1995 until the end of 2013, blocked EU efforts to fight tax avoidance by multinational corporations. Luxembourg agreed to multinational businesses on an individualised deal basis, often at an effective rate of less than 1%.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/jan/01/jean-claude-juncker-blocked-eu-curbs-on-tax-avoidance-cables-show |title=Jean-Claude Juncker blocked EU curbs on tax avoidance, cables show |first=Simon |last=Bowers |date=1 January 2017 |newspaper=The Guardian |accessdate=1 February 2024}}

In July 2017, Juncker described the European Parliament as "ridiculous" after only a few dozen MEPs came to attend a debate dedicated to evaluating Malta's time holding the 6-month term rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU, accusing MEPs of showing a lack of respect for smaller EU countries.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/04/jean-claude-juncker-criticises-ridiculous-european-parliament|title=Jean-Claude Juncker criticises 'ridiculous' European parliament|last=Rankin|first=Jennifer|date=4 July 2017|work=The Guardian|access-date=25 July 2017|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}} Although rebuked for his remark by the Parliament's president, Antonio Tajani, Juncker responded, "I will never again attend a meeting of this kind." Jaume Duch Guillot, chief spokesman for the Parliament, later said on Twitter that Juncker "regretted" the incident and that Tajani considered the case closed. However, it is not known whether Juncker apologised for his outburst.{{Cite news|url=http://www.politico.eu/article/jean-claude-juncker-european-parliament-is-ridiculous/|last1=de La Baume|first1=Maïa|last2=M. Herszenhorn|first2=David|title=Jean-Claude Juncker: 'The Parliament is ridiculous'|date=4 July 2017|work=POLITICO|access-date=25 July 2017|language=en-US}}

In addition to his native Luxembourgish, Juncker is fluent in English, French, German and Latin.{{cite news |last1=Thomas |first1=Kelly |title=Next EU Commission President will be a polyglot |url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/languages-culture/news/next-eu-commission-president-will-be-a-polyglot/ |access-date=4 September 2019 |work=euractiv.com |date=24 April 2014}}

Juncker suffers from sciatica attacks following a 1989 car accident, which causes him occasional unsteadiness while walking.{{cite news |title=EU chief's stumbling 'caused by sciatica' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-44812352 |access-date=4 September 2019 |work=BBC News |date=13 July 2018}} A video of Juncker stumbling and receiving assistance from several EU politicians at a NATO leaders' event in July 2018 prompted comments about his health, though his spokesman dismissed the concerns.{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/questions-mount-about-jean-claude-juncker-health/|title=Questions mount about Juncker's health|last=Herszenhorn|first=David M.|website=Politico|date=13 July 2018|access-date=26 October 2019}}

Speculations about alcoholism surrounded Juncker for several years and have been discussed by several high-profile EU politicians.{{cite news |title=Germany's Schaeuble defends Juncker against drinking allegations |url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-eu-juncker-schaeuble-idUKKBN0F647320140701 |work=Reuters |date=1 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128061339/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-eu-juncker-schaeuble-idUKKBN0F647320140701 |archive-date=28 January 2016 |language=en}} In 2014, Jeroen Dijsselbloem, at the time Dutch Minister of Finance, described Juncker in an interview as a "heavy smoker and drinker", but later apologized for his comments.{{cite news |last1=Karnitschnig |first1=Matthew |last2=Palmeri |first2=Tara |last3=Heath |first3=Ryan |title=The time of Juncker's troubles |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/the-time-of-jean-claude-juncker-troubles-european-commission-president-investment-plan-travel-meetings-scheduled |work=POLITICO |date=16 June 2016}} Juncker himself has always denied these allegations in interviews.{{cite news |last1=Rankin |first1=Jennifer |title=We have high level of confidence in Juncker, says Germany |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/13/we-have-a-very-high-level-of-confidence-in-jean-claude-juncker-germany-says |work=The Guardian |date=13 July 2018}}

Juncker is married to Christiane Frising. The couple have no children.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}

• {{Timeline-event|date=1985|event= 45px Knight of the {{lang|fr|Ordre des Arts et des Lettres|italic=no}} (France)}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=1988|event= 45px Grand Cross of the Order of Merit (Luxembourg)}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=1988|event= 45px Grand Cross of the Order of Prince Henry the Navigator (Portugal)}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2002|event= File:Legion Honneur GO ribbon.svg, Grand Officer rank]] Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor (France)}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2003|event= 45px Grand Cross of the Order of the Star (Romania)}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2004|event= 45px Commander of the Order of Polonia Restituta (Poland)}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2005|event= 45px Grand Cross of the Order of Christ (Portugal)}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2006|event= 45px Grand Cross of the Order of the Three Stars (Latvia)}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2007|event= 45px Grand Cross of the Order of Adolphe of Nassau (Luxembourg)}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.zimbio.com/photos/Jean-Claude+Juncker/Wedding+Prince+Guillaume+Luxembourg+Stephanie/UR5dRNcVKTQ|title = Jean-Claude Juncker Photostream}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2007|event= 45px Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic (Spain)}}{{Cite journal|author=Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores y Cooperación|journal=Boletín Oficial del Estado |volume=92 |date=17 April 2007|title=Real Decreto 483/2007, de 16 de abril, por el que se concede la Gran Cruz de la Orden de Isabel la Católica a los señores que se citan|url=https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/2007/04/17/pdfs/A16866-16866.pdf|issn=0212-033X |language=es}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2007|event= 45px Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (Italy)}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2010|event= 45px Collar pro Merito Melitensi (Sovereign Military Order of Malta)}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2010|event= 45px Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold with Sash (Austria){{cite web | url = http://www.parlament.gv.at/PAKT/VHG/XXIV/AB/AB_10542/imfname_251156.pdf | title = Reply to a parliamentary question about the Decoration of Honour | language = de | page=1978 | access-date = 30 November 2012 }}}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2013|event= 45px Grand Cross of the Order of the Redeemer (Greece)}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2013|event= 45px Grand Cross of the Federal Order of Merit (Germany)}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2013|event= 50px Grand Cross of the Order of Vytautas the Great (Lithuania)}}{{Cite web |date=2013-03-12 |title=Remise d'une très haute décoration lituanienne au Premier ministre luxembourgeois |url=http://me.gouvernement.lu/fr/actualites.html |access-date=2023-12-29 |website=me.gouvernement.lu |language=fr}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2014|event= 45px Order of Friendship (Kazakhstan)}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2014|event= 45px Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2019|event= 45px The First Class of the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise (Ukraine)}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-polytics/2699405-poroshenko-presents-awards-to-tusk-and-juncker.html|title=Poroshenko presents awards to Tusk and Juncker|date=14 May 2019|publisher=Ukrinform}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2019|event= 45px Companion with Star of the National Order of Merit (Malta)}}{{Cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/malta/news/president-juncker-receives-maltas-national-order-merit_en|title=President Juncker receives Malta's National Order of Merit|last=SCORCIA|first=Andrea|date=30 July 2019|website=Malta – European Commission|language=en|access-date=2 December 2019}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2020|event= File:JPN Kyokujitsu-sho 1Class BAR.svg Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun (Japan)}}

• {{Timeline-event|date=1998|event= Honorary Doctorate of the Miami University}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=1998|event= "Vision for Europe Award" of the Edmond Israel Foundation}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/key/date/1999/html/sp991111_3.en.html |title=ECB: The European project and the challenges of the future |publisher=Ecb.europa.eu |date=11 November 1999 |access-date=27 June 2014}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=1999|event= European Crafts Prize 1999 of North Rhine-Westphalia}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2000|event= Insignia de l'Artisanat en Or (Gold Badge), of the Luxembourg Chamber of Crafts}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2001|event= Honorary Doctorate of the University of Münster}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2002|event= Cicero-Speakers Prize}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2002|event= Prize of the European Federation of Taxpayers}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2003|event= Honorary Doctorate of the University of Bucharest}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2003|event= Honorary Citizenship of the City of Trier}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2003|event= Heinrich Braun Award}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2003|event= Quadriga Prize in the European Year of German Society Workshop}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2004|event= Honorary Doctorate of the Democritus University of Thrace}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2004|event= Honorary Citizen and Freeman of the City of Orestiada; with the unveiling of a street named after Prime Minister Juncker}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2005|event= Walter Hallstein Prize}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2005|event= Europeans of the Year}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2005|event= Elsie Kuhn Leitz Prize from the "Association of Franco-German Companies"}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2006|event= European of the Year 2005 from the French Press (Trombinoscope)}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2006|event= International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2006|event= European Prize for Political Culture of the Hans Ringier Foundation}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2007|event= Foreign Associate Member of the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences, Institut de France in lieu of the late Léopold Sédar Senghor}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2007|event= Patron of the not-for-profit Animal Protection Association "EV Newfoundlanders"}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2007|event= St Liborius Medal for Unity and Peace of the Archdiocese of Paderborn}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2007|event= Coudenhove-Kalergi Badge of the Europa-Union Münster}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2007|event= Peace Prize of the European Foundation for Ecology and Democracy}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2007|event= Honorary Doctorate of the Robert Schuman University of Strasbourg}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2007|event= Honorary Member of the Grand Ducal Institute of Luxembourg, Department of Moral and Political Sciences}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2008|event= Gold Medal of the Jean Monnet Foundation for Europe}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2008|event= Amilcar Cabral Medal, First Class of the Republic of Cape Verde}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2008|event= German Citizenship Prize}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2008|event= Franz Josef Strauss Prize}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2008|event= Honorary Doctorate of the University of Pittsburgh}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2008|event= State Prize of North Rhine-Westphalia}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2008|event= Sharpest Blade Prize (City of Solingen)}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2008|event= Small State Award of the Herbert Batliner-Europa Institute in Salzburg}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2008|event= European Banker of the Year }}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2009|event= European Prize for Service Economies}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2009|event= European Union Gold Medal (with Star) }}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2009|event= FASEL Foundation Award }}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2009|event= Social Market Economy, MA }}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2009|event= Honorary Senator of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts }}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2010|event= Winfried Prize of the City of Fulda }}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2010|event= Thomas à Kempis honorary stele }}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2010|event= Honorary Doctorate of the Medicine University of Innsbruck}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2010|event= Saarland Medal of Merit }}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2010|event= Collier of the Fondation du Mérite européen }}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2010|event= Hanns Martin Schleyer Foundation}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2010|event= Order of Merit of Baden-Württemberg}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2011|event= Order of Merit of Rhineland-Palatinate }}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2011|event= Honorary Doctorate of the Faculty of Law, University of Athens}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2011|event= European Culture Prize }}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2012|event= Werner Blindert Prize}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2012|event= Sigillum Magnum, University of Bologna}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2012|event= Honorary Doctorate of the University of Sheffield}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2013|event= Honorary Doctorate of the University of Porto}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2017|event= Honorary Doctorate of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2017|event= Honorary Doctorate of the University of Salamanca}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2017|event= Honorary Doctorate of the University of Coimbra}}
• {{Timeline-event|date=2017|event= Gold Medal of the Charles University}}

• List of prime ministers of Luxembourg
• Juncker–Poos Government (1995–1999)
• Juncker–Polfer Government (1999–2004)
• Juncker–Asselborn I Government (2004–2009)
• Juncker–Asselborn II Government (2009–2013)
• Luxembourg Leaks

{{reflist}}

{{commons category}}

• {{Cite web |url=http://www.gouvernement.lu/gouvernement/premier-ministre/en/index.html |title=Biography |access-date=15 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100219020757/http://www.gouvernement.lu/gouvernement/premier-ministre/en/index.html |archive-date=19 February 2010 |url-status=dead }} at the Luxembourg Government
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20151208225318/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-eu-commission-juncker-insight-idUKKBN0EO0GB20140613 some Reuters articles]
• [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-27679170 Profile: EU's Jean-Claude Juncker]; BBC News
• [http://juncker.epp.eu EPP Juncker 2014 campaign site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140530040852/http://juncker.epp.eu/ |date=30 May 2014 }}
• {{C-SPAN|60086}}

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