Global Conversation: Exclusive interview with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker
- 7 years ago
euronews – Isabelle Kumar
What could be the fatal blow for Europe? Brexit? Populism? The migrant crisis? A difficult economic situation? The EU is, today, in one of the most critical phases since its creation.The outcomes of elections in Austria, Italy, France and Germany also pose a risk to the EU.
Who better to talk to about these challenges than the President of the European Commission.Jean-Claude Juncker? Thanks for being with us on the programme.
President of the European Commission – Jean-Claude Juncker
Bonjour, madame.
The ‘last chance’ commission
euronews – Isabelle Kumar
At the start of your mandate, you said ‘my commission will be the ‘last chance’ commission.’
How do you think the European Union can survive?
President of the European Commission – Jean-Claude Juncker
The existence of the EU is not in doubt.
Biography: Jean-Claude Juncker
Joins the conservative Christian Social People’s Party in Luxembourg in 1974
Prime Minister of Luxembourg from 1995 – 2013.
President of the European Commission since 2014
The longest serving head of any EU national government and one of the longest serving elected leaders in the world.
euronews – Isabelle Kumar
Really?
President of the European Commission – Jean-Claude Juncker
You said the German, French and Italian elections threatened Europe’s survival. That’s not accurate. The French and German elections do not threaten the future of Europe, as far as their citizens are concerned.
But you are right, this commission which I have the honour of presiding over will be the “last chance” commission. What I meant by that was that the European Union is entering a ‘last chance’- phase because the gulf between Europe’s citizens and the public and political action of the EU is growing ever wider and I wanted to remedy that.
The EU’s weaknesses
euronews – Isabelle Kumar
Exactly, and EU institutions are often criticized for being out of touch from the European people. I have a question from an online viewer – we asked our online viewers to send us questions for the interview – this one is from Moussa Boureima – what is the European Union’s biggest weakness?
President of the European Commission – Jean-Claude Juncker
The lack of love, we do not know a great deal about each other. What do the people in Lapland know about Sicily? What do the Italians in the south know about the depths of Poland? Nothing. We need to take more of an interest in each other.
euronews – Isabelle Kumar
So, at this critical time for the EU, you are about to lose a close and powerful ally.
I am of course referring to the President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz. This is a big blow for you, coming at one of the toughest times?
President of the European Commission – Jean-Claude Juncker
No, I would not describe the departure of Martin Schulz in such lofty terms.
euronews – Isabelle Kumar
No?
President of the European Commission – Jean-Claude Juncker
But it is
What could be the fatal blow for Europe? Brexit? Populism? The migrant crisis? A difficult economic situation? The EU is, today, in one of the most critical phases since its creation.The outcomes of elections in Austria, Italy, France and Germany also pose a risk to the EU.
Who better to talk to about these challenges than the President of the European Commission.Jean-Claude Juncker? Thanks for being with us on the programme.
President of the European Commission – Jean-Claude Juncker
Bonjour, madame.
The ‘last chance’ commission
euronews – Isabelle Kumar
At the start of your mandate, you said ‘my commission will be the ‘last chance’ commission.’
How do you think the European Union can survive?
President of the European Commission – Jean-Claude Juncker
The existence of the EU is not in doubt.
Biography: Jean-Claude Juncker
Joins the conservative Christian Social People’s Party in Luxembourg in 1974
Prime Minister of Luxembourg from 1995 – 2013.
President of the European Commission since 2014
The longest serving head of any EU national government and one of the longest serving elected leaders in the world.
euronews – Isabelle Kumar
Really?
President of the European Commission – Jean-Claude Juncker
You said the German, French and Italian elections threatened Europe’s survival. That’s not accurate. The French and German elections do not threaten the future of Europe, as far as their citizens are concerned.
But you are right, this commission which I have the honour of presiding over will be the “last chance” commission. What I meant by that was that the European Union is entering a ‘last chance’- phase because the gulf between Europe’s citizens and the public and political action of the EU is growing ever wider and I wanted to remedy that.
The EU’s weaknesses
euronews – Isabelle Kumar
Exactly, and EU institutions are often criticized for being out of touch from the European people. I have a question from an online viewer – we asked our online viewers to send us questions for the interview – this one is from Moussa Boureima – what is the European Union’s biggest weakness?
President of the European Commission – Jean-Claude Juncker
The lack of love, we do not know a great deal about each other. What do the people in Lapland know about Sicily? What do the Italians in the south know about the depths of Poland? Nothing. We need to take more of an interest in each other.
euronews – Isabelle Kumar
So, at this critical time for the EU, you are about to lose a close and powerful ally.
I am of course referring to the President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz. This is a big blow for you, coming at one of the toughest times?
President of the European Commission – Jean-Claude Juncker
No, I would not describe the departure of Martin Schulz in such lofty terms.
euronews – Isabelle Kumar
No?
President of the European Commission – Jean-Claude Juncker
But it is