In the spotlight: Jean-Claude Juncker
On the one hand, Jean-Claude Juncker had to contend with the British rebate, and on the other he had the French sucking up agriculture subsidies. To add to his woes, he also had 10 new members bleating for extensive EU support and the lowest possible contributions to deal with.
"I am disappointed with the debate. There is clearly no real willingness to conclude an agreement," he said on Friday. It seems that the problem will have to be tackled further by the British Prime Minister, who takes over the EU presidency on July 1.
However, a decision was taken concerning the impasse over the EU Constitution. Government representatives decided to postpone the ratification deadline beyond 2006 with Juncker seeing no point in a renegotiation of the document. "I'm optimistic that it will be possible to persuade people that the Constitutional Treaty is the right set of rules for the future," he explained. One might not shake off the impression that it simply means moving the problem further away.
Having been governor of the World Bank from 1989 to 1995, Jean-Claude Juncker has also acted as head of the International Monetary Fund and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
"I am disappointed with the debate. There is clearly no real willingness to conclude an agreement," he said on Friday. It seems that the problem will have to be tackled further by the British Prime Minister, who takes over the EU presidency on July 1.
However, a decision was taken concerning the impasse over the EU Constitution. Government representatives decided to postpone the ratification deadline beyond 2006 with Juncker seeing no point in a renegotiation of the document. "I'm optimistic that it will be possible to persuade people that the Constitutional Treaty is the right set of rules for the future," he explained. One might not shake off the impression that it simply means moving the problem further away.
Having been governor of the World Bank from 1989 to 1995, Jean-Claude Juncker has also acted as head of the International Monetary Fund and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
