PM Vows To 'Keep Fighting' After Juncker Defeat

David Cameron admitted EU reform would be a “long, tough fight” after arch-federalist Jean-Claude Juncker was chosen as president of the European Commission – but insisted he would not give up the cause.

The Prime Minister – who was defeated in his attempt to block Mr Juncker’s candidacy – said his fellow EU leaders had made a “serious mistake” in allowing the European Parliament to choose the presidency.

“This is a bad day for Europe. It risks undermining the position of national governments, it risks undermining the power of national parliaments and it hands new power to the European Parliament,” he said.

Mr Cameron had campaigned against the appointment of Mr Juncker, arguing he would block reform of the EU.

But the vote has not dented the Prime Minister’s commitment to that cause.

“This is going to be a long, tough fight and frankly sometimes you have to be prepared to lose a battle in order to win a war,” he added. “It has only stiffened my resolve to fight for reform in the EU, because it is crying out for it.”

Mr Cameron had also warned the appointment could fuel Euroscepticism in the UK and make it more likely that Britons will vote to quit the EU in the referendum he is planning for 2017.

In forcing a vote on the nomination, Mr Cameron broke with tradition that the Commission chief is approved by consensus of the EU’s national heads of government.

In the end, only Hungary joined Britain in voting against Mr Juncker’s appointment, which was approved by a margin of 26-2.

His nomination, which must be confirmed by a vote in the European Parliament, was announced by European Council president Herman van Rompuy on Twitter.

The Prime Minister said that while Europe had taken “one big step backwards” Britain had “made some small steps forward”.

The Council had “broken new ground” in two areas during their discussions, he said.

This included an agreement that ever-closer union allows for different paths of integration and respects the wishes of countries such as Britain that do not want a closer relationship.

The leaders had also “agreed explicitly that they need to address Britain’s concerns about the EU”, he told a news conference.

“While Europe has taken one big step backwards today with their choice of Commission president, I have made some small steps forward, securing a new relationship for Britain in the EU,” he said.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel was an advocate of Mr Juncker, but amid the vote she urged EU colleagues to “compromise” with Britain.

“I think we can find compromises here and make a step towards Great Britain,” she said.

Labour leader Ed Miliband commented: “On Europe, David Cameron has now become a toxic Prime Minister. He cannot stand up for Britain’s national interest because when he supports something, he drives our allies away.”

UKIP leader Nigel Farage said: “I think what’s clear is that any cards that Mr Cameron may have had to play have been spent, and have been lost over a futile battle that he was bound to lose from the beginning.

“(Any) renegotiation now doesn’t look very likely. He has been humiliated today but worse than that, he actually looks very isolated.”

Source Article from https://uk.news.yahoo.com/jean-claude-juncker-nominated-top-eu-job-144114609.html

PM Vows To 'Keep Fighting' After Juncker Defeat