13th Jun 2014 13:48
Berlin (Alliance News) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel rejected Friday a charge by British Prime Minister David Cameron that an alliance pushing Jean-Claude Juncker as the next head of the European Commission aimed "to breach the EU's rules by the back door."
Cameron made a direct appeal in an op-ed Friday to voters in Germany, France and Ireland to thwart the bid by Juncker, a former premier of Luxembourg. Cameron ridiculed claims that Juncker was in line for the post by virtue of last month's European elections.
Cameron insists that the right to propose a commission president was reserved to Europe's 28 national leaders.
"Each of the main political groups ran 'lead candidates' - so-called Spitzenkandidaten - during the elections and did a back-room deal to join forces after the elections in support of the lead candidate of the party that won the most seats," he charged.
"This concept was never agreed by the European Council. It was not negotiated between the European institutions. And it was never ratified by national parliaments," he said, calling it "a power grab through the back door."
Juncker is backed by centre-right and centre-left blocs in the new European Parliament. However, he is anathema to Britain because of his belief in closer union.
In Berlin, Merkel spokesman Steffen Seibert reminded reporters that the decision to back Juncker was taken by Merkel and other leaders belonging to the centre-right European People's Party at a Dublin conference.
"She was definitely not breaching EU treaties."
But Cameron railed against the claim that the anointing of Juncker as lead candidate before the vote by the winning parties meant he had a claim to head the next European Commission. He called it an "invented process."
"It would be a green light for those who want to breach the EU's rules by the back door. Rules that have been ratified by our national parliaments and laid down in international law," he wrote.
"Voters sent a clear message at the European elections. They are disillusioned with the way Europe is working. They are demanding change so it focuses on what they care about: growth and jobs," he wrote.
The play by Juncker for the top EU job has caused a rift between Cameron and Merkel, who have been long-time allies.
Confirming that Merkel and Cameron are openly arguing, Seibert said, "There wasn't of course anything surprising for the chancellor" in Cameron's newspaper article, since she knew his views from "intensive talks" previously.
"The British government equally well knows the view of the chancellor, who has very clearly spoken in favour of Jean-Claude Juncker becoming the next commission president," he said.
Merkel had initially been perceived as lukewarm toward Juncker, biding her time before throwing her support before the election, and again letting days pass after the election before she renewed that support, but she is now seen as committed to Juncker's success.
Seibert said it was now up to Herman Van Rompuy, president of the EU Council, to identify a nominee for the European Commission acceptable to national leaders.
"We ought to support this process, which is certainly not an easy one, by not yelling from the sidelines every day, but by allowing him the time he needs," said Seibert.
Next week, Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt is to visit Berlin to coordinate with Merkel on how they will act at a crunch EU summit on June 27, Seibert announced. Estonia's premier Taavi Roivas is also to visit Merkel.
Seibert said it was fine if Cameron wished to set out his views "to the wider German public" by way of the op-ed.
Juncker has gained only tepid support in the German media, with some commentators agreeing with Cameron that he is a blast from the past who is out of touch with the widespread disillusionment among voters in the EU.
Copyright dpa