Jean-Claude Juncker

German minister says Britain's EU departure "unimaginable"

BERLIN -- German Minister of Finance Wolfgang Schauble has been quoted as saying that Britain leaving the European Union would be "unimaginable."

Former Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker has received support from a majority of EU leaders to become the next EU Commission President.

Apart from the UK, Hungary was the only other country out of the 28 EU members to vote against Juncker, EUObserver reports.

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras on Friday seized the opportunity to emphasize the importance of growth before a European audience after the overwhelming majority of the bloc’s 28 leaders backed Jean-Claude Juncker, a former prime minister of Luxembourg who has warned of the risks of excessive austerity, to be the European Commission’s next president.

European leaders gathered in Brussels on Friday to try and resolve a damaging row over Jean-Claude Juncker's likely nomination as European Commission president which has left Britain isolated and angry.
      

The opposition to Jean-Claude Juncker’s European Commission President candidacy is increasingly waning, much to the disliking of UK Prime Minister David Cameron.

European Parliament President Martin Schulz has been elected the leader of the body’s Social Democrat bloc, reports Deutsche Welle. 

With 191 seats, the group is the European Parliament’s second-largest faction.

Former European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet (photo) entered the tussle over who leads the European Commission, backing Jean-Claude Juncker’s bid to win the post over U.K. opposition.

Jean-Claude Juncker could pull out of the race for European Commission President, according to diplomatic sources.

The former Prime Minister of Luxembourg was pitted as the favorite after his European People's Party (EPP) won the most seats in the European Parliament in May's elections.

The head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Christine Lagarde has ruled out the possibility of becoming the next European Commission President.

By Costas Iordanidis