1 August 2014. PenzaNews. Jean-Claude Juncker, former Prime Minister of Luxembourg, was elected new President of the European Commission, getting the votes of 422 MEPs out of 729. He will take up his office in November.

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Before the vote, the politician presented his “New Start for Europe” program, in which he highlighted a number of priorities in many areas. In particular, Juncker stated that in three months, he would prepare a three-year program that will create new jobs and gather €300 bln in investments. In addition to that, he announced his plans to introduce minimum wage in all EU member-states, reduce red tape for SMEs, and ensure Europe’s energy security.

In his speech, the former Luxembourg PM also supported the further European integration and expansion of competences of the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs.

During his election campaign, Jean-Claude Juncker was met harshly by the Eurosceptics, as well as David Cameron, the Prime Minister of Great Britain. The British PM frequently called Juncker’s candidacy unsuitable for Europe, and said the choice in his favor will push the UK towards seceding from the EU.

“[Jean-Claude Juncker] is the ultimate Brussels insider who has been at the table for the last two decades of decisions. If you want change, is that the type of person you want for the future?” Guardian quotes David Cameron.

The foreign observers differ in opinions on the new head of the European Commission. One of them, Bruno Waterfield of The Telegraph, recalls the Luxembourg politician’s eccentric nature.

“Famous for his sarcasm, heavy drinking and chain smoking, Mr. Juncker is not known to have other interests outside politics. He is married, but has no children. According to friends he has a collection of newspaper cuttings and can pinpoint a quote or moment in his political career by pulling out a file,” the analyst writes.

At the same time, Charlotte McDonald-Gibson of Independent writes that the Luxembourg politician who worked as the MP for 20 years not only gathered a wealth of experience but also studied the European Union policy mechanisms through and through.

“He knows the EU politics inside out, serving as head of the group of Eurozone finance ministers from 2005 to 2013,” she stresses, and notes that even Juncker’s opponents choose to rely on his diplomatic skills to a certain degree.

Worldwide experts also note Juncker’s extensive experience. One of them, Patrick Sensburg, German MP from the CDU/CSU fraction, said in an interview to PenzaNews agency that he considers Jean-Claude Juncker a suitable candidate for this post.

“He is highly experienced and widely recognized,” the politician clarified.

In his opinion, these qualities will be vital for finding solutions to the most crucial EU problems in the next few years.

“The three most urgent challenges we are currently facing in Europe are: economic stability, peace and security, and responsiveness. In order to maintain economic stability, we need sound financial structures and a healthy budget. Peace and security requests a transnational approach. Further, Europe has to focus on its responsiveness in order to strengthen the citizen-orientated policy,” Patrick Sensburg explained. He also added that the new head of the European Commission has all the tools to influence the EU budget which will be necessary to make the steps in the right direction.

In addition to that, the expert suggested that Jean-Claude Juncker must push for uniting the European Union members under a single banner.

“In order to tackle all challenges, the member states need to let the EU speak more on their behalf with one voice instead of running the risk of 28 different contradictory statements,” the politician noted, stressing the importance of continuing the European integration.

Meanwhile, Jose Ignacio Torreblanca, head of the Madrid office at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said there will be no radical changes in the European Union during Juncker’s term in the office, because the large Parliament coalitions are currently stable.

At the same time, according to the expert, the external policy will mostly depend on the new High Representative for Foreign Affairs. However, the new European Commission President will be able to deliver in a number of areas because of Juncker’s long-term political job experience.

“Those who criticize him on ground of representing the European establishment are right, but the European establishment does not see this as a problem, but as an asset,” Jose Ignacio Torreblanca noted.

According to him, out of all European issues, Jean-Claude Juncker’s must first deal with unemployment and economical decline that threaten to undermine both financial and social support for Europe. In order to prevent that, the Luxembourg politician must skillfully apply the promised €300 bln investment and the existing Stability Pact rules, as well as escaping economic dogmatism by all means.

“Europe cannot afford stagnation. The fuels into Euroscepticism and populism,” Jose Ignacio Torreblanca warned.

On the same topic, Ulf Sverdrup, director of the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, stressed that the urgent problems the new European Commission President will have to deal with are located not only within Europe.

“The most important external issue is to stabilize the development in the European neighborhood, and that is partially in the relations to Russia, but also in the South where you have dramatic developments — the ongoing assaults on the Mediterranean Sea and also in the Middle East,” the expert said.

At the same time, the analyst noted that he does not consider Jean-Claude Juncker the best candidate for the post.

“It’s difficult to tell if it is a good choice. He’s very experienced, but he’s not so charismatic,” Ulf Sverdrup explained.

The expert also pointed out that the European Commission policy will be determined not only by its President, but also by the team itself. However, who exactly will be in the team is currently impossible to tell.

“There is a political bargaining game going on now, with different countries nominating different candidates,” he added.

Meanwhile, Daniela Kietz, research associate at German Institute for International and Security Affairs, suggested that the new European Commission, headed by Jean-Claude Juncker, may become one of the strongest in the last few years.

“He is the first EU commission president who got nominated and then elected directly through the European elections,” the expert emphasized.

In her opinion, this fact works well in the combination with the former Prime Minister’s great experience and his centrist politics.

“He belongs to a strong conservative Christian-Democratic party, but his politics are also acceptable to Social Democrats. He is someone who can easily find a compromise between the two biggest party groups in Europe,” Daniela Kietz said.

From her point of view, the new head of the European Commission must use this chance not only to lead the EU out of economic stagnation, but also to solve a number of currently present issues on data protection, migration policy, united European energy network and more.

At the same time, the expert noted that Juncker’s room for maneuver is fairly limited, and because of that the public should not expert too much from the European Commission in the next 5 years.

“He can try to solve the EU economic problems, and he has a number of instruments that he can use, especially regarding the European budget and how its money can be used over the next few years, but he cannot buy himself a solved economic crisis in Europe,” Daniela Kietz explained. At the same time, she noted that the European policies are in most cases set by the European Commission and the member-states themselves.

Dániel Bartha, executive director of the Centre for Euro-Atlantic Integration and Democracy in Hungary, agreed with this point.

“Juncker himself will have a very limited impact. We have to see who will be the High Representative for External Affairs and the Commissioner for Enlargement,” he said.

At the same time, the expert noted that the new European Commission will have to do great work on many internal and external tasks and problems, with some of them being no less important than finding the way out of the economic crisis.

Among other things, inside the EU Jean-Claude Juncker will have to face the Brexit threat, while outside Europe the Ukrainian crisis and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership talks with the USA will dominate the next few months or years.

However, the analyst added that the new European Commission president is the man who can unite the EU against these troubles.

“Juncker might was not the best available, but the best compromise for the job. The fact that the member-states could have an early compromise in this question was a promising sign. Juncker specifically can be a good person for managing the relaunch and strengthening of the EU’s competitiveness and economy,” Dániel Bartha concluded.

Jean-Claude Juncker, the new President of the European Commission, held the office of the Prime Minister of Luxembourg since 1995 and carried out the duties of the Minister of Labor and later the Minister of Finance. In 2013, Juncker resigned due to the State Intelligence Service scandal.

He was appointed Permanent President of the Eurogroup for three terms since January 2005. In July 2012, Juncker’s mandate was extended by 2.5 months; however, he stepped down from this position in January 2013.

Jean-Claude Juncker was a key architect of the Maastricht Treaty and was one of the developers of the EU Stability and Growth Pact, which limits the European Union countries’ structural deficit and government debt levels.

He is a supporter of European integration and strong EU institutions.