October 27, 2014 – Europe
Former prime minister of Luxembourg Jean-Claude Juncker becomes the new EU Commission president on Saturday (November 1, 2014).
Juncker addresses the EU Parliament on July 15, 2014
Deutsche Welle (DW) on October 22, 2014 pointed out that,
“The commission … is Brussels’ most powerful institution … It will draft EU policy and oversee national budgets for the next five years in a bloc with roughly 507 million inhabitants.”
In July, Juncker informed the EU Parliament,
“My number one priority and the connecting thread running through each and every proposal will be getting Europe growing again and getting people back to work. To do this, within the first three months of my mandate, I will present a Jobs, Growth and Investment Package to generate an extra EUR 300 billion in investment over the next three years.”
Much of money apparently is expected to come from the private sector. He also said,
“It is in everyone’s interest that energy not be used as a political tool. It’s time Europe stood tall on its own feet, pooling our resources, combining infrastructures and uniting our negotiating power.”
And he stated,
“My firm conviction is that we must move forward as a Union but not necessarily all at the same speed. For some, their final destination may already have been reached.”
Upcoming EU Commission President Juncker also has said,
“This is the last-chance commission.”
Read Juncker’s plans for the next five years here
Read related In the News : Rightsizing EU October 06, 2014
