Juncker elected as new president of the EC

Former Luxembourg’s PM Jean-Claude Juncker was elected by the European Parliament as a new European Commission President with 422 votes for and 250 against. Before the vote, Juncker addressed the parliament. said he will use his five-year-term to promote policies fostering growth and reducing rampant unemployment in Europe. “The gap between the European Union and its citizens has increased … Europe needs to explain itself more. It’s up to us to deliver.” Juncker also pledged to assign €300 billion, mostly from the EU’s existing budget, to stimulate investment in the EU. Juncker will replace former Portuguese PM Jose Manuel Barroso who headed the EU’s executive arm for the last decade.