Jean-Claude Juncker

Jean-Claude Juncker (born 9 December 1954) is a Luxembourgish politician and the leader of the Christian Social People's Party. He was the Prime Minister of Luxembourg until 4 December 2013, having succeeded Jacques Santer on 20 January 1995.

Jean-Claude Juncker in 2010

He was Luxembourg's Minister for Finances from 1989 to 2009. He has been President of the Euro Group since the creation of a semi-permanent position in 2005. In 1997 and 2005, in his capacity as Prime Minister, he also served two six-month terms as President of the European Council. He was the President of the European Commission between 1 November 2014 and 1 December 2019.

Quotes

• We decide on something, leave it lying around and wait and see what happens. If no one kicks up a fuss, because most people don't understand what has been decided, we continue step by step until there is no turning back.
  • Jean-Claude Juncker, quoted by von Koch, Dirk (27 December 1999). "Die Brüsseler Republik" (in German). 
    • Quoted again by Eder, Florian (21 January 2013). "Junckers Tricks in den langen Brüsseler Nächten" (in German). 

• If it's a Yes, we will say 'on we go', and if it's a No we will say 'we continue'.
  • On the 2005 French referendum on the Lisbon Treaty
    • quoted in Rennie, David (26 May 2005). "Keep up the pressure for a No vote, Left warned". The Telegraph (UK). Retrieved on 29 June 2011. 

• I am determined, as is the Government, to do everything to preserve everything that we have worked for and that we believe in … by using all necessary means to fend off the hostile (bid).
  • On the bids on Arcelor by Mittal, 5 February 5, 2006 What they said about the Arcelor bid"; Business Times, Malaysia

• The constitutional treaty was an easily understandable treaty. This is a simplified treaty which is very complicated."

On the Lisbon Treaty, 23 June 2007 EU leaders hammer out treaty deal. Swissinfo / NZZ (24 June 2007). Retrieved on 2007-06-26..

• I am astonished at those who are afraid of the people: one can always explain that what is in the interest of Europe is in the interests of our countries."
  "Britain is different. Of course there will be transfers of sovereignty. But would I be intelligent to draw the attention of public opinion to this fact?"
  "There is a single legal personality for the EU, the primacy of European law, a new architecture for foreign and security policy, there is an enormous extension in the fields of the EU's powers, there is Charter of Fundamental Rights.
  • On the Lisbon Treaty, Le Soir L'invité du lundi Jean-Claude Juncker : « Succès objectif, déception atmosphérique », 2 July 2007, Le Soir, 2 July 2007, page 18 Bruno Waterfield, Brendan Carlin: 'Don't tell British about the EU treaty', Telegraph, 3 July 2007.

• We all know what to do, we just don’t know how to get re-elected after we’ve done it.
  • When talking about economic reforms.[1] (page 4 of the report).

• Monetary policy is a serious issue. We should discuss this in secret, in the Eurogroup [...] I'm ready to be insulted as being insufficiently democratic, but I want to be serious [...] I am for secret, dark debates.
  • Jean-Claude Juncker, 20 April 2011, quoted in "Eurogroup chief: 'I'm for secret, dark debates'", EUobserver, 21 April 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2011.

• I don't think Spain will need any kind of external support.
  • Jean-Claude Juncker, 17 April 2012. Eurogroup chief: Not if, but when for Spanish bailout, experts believe, Reuters, 18 April 2012. Retrieved 24 July 2012.

• When it becomes serious, you have to lie.
  • "The real Jean-Claude Juncker", BBC (July 15, 2014) "Jean-Claude Juncker profile: 'When it becomes serious, you have to lie'", Telegraph (November 12, 2014)

• There can be no democratic choice against the European treaties, one cannot exit the euro without leaving the EU.
  • Originial quote in french: Il ne peut y avoir de choix démocratique contre les traités européens, on ne peut pas sortir de l'euro sans sortir de l'Union européenne.
  • Jean-Claude Juncker, 'Greece: The dangerous game' (1 February 2015), from a french newspaper Le Figaro Jean-Claude Juncker : «Pas question de supprimer la dette grecque» [2] (28 January 2015)

• Here comes the dictator.
  • Referring to Orban entering the room

• We feel we need a Capital Market Union, Energy Union, Economic and Monetary Union but we also think we need security union
  • After the 2016 Brussels bombings. [3] (23 March, 2016)

• Borders are the worst invention ever made by politicians.
  • To the European Forum Alpbach. [4] (22 August 2016)

• Thank you, have a nice day. I will now see the president of Azerbaijan, so the nice part of the day is over.
  • To reporters at a European Union conference [5] (6 February 2017)

• I have a lot of understanding for people skeptical about the EU. Because there are legitimate questions to the address about the European Union, including the Commission. You have to answer that. You have to talk to the Eurosceptic people. By the way, sometimes I am myself, I am not free from Euroscepticism sometimes. But I am not on the way to fundamental opposition.
  • Interview with Thomas Mayer<ref>Mayer, Thomas (6 October, 2018). Commission President Juncker: "I am not free from euroscepticism". Der Standard, 6 October 2018

• Every fourth euro spent within the EU budget will go towards action to mitigate climate change... I am glad to see that young people are taking to the streets in Europe to raise visibility of the issue of climate change.
  • Quoted by Julia Conley, in Kicking Ass for Her Generation': Applause for 16-Year-Old Greta Thunberg as EU Chief Pledges $1 Trillion to Curb Climate Threat,Common Dreams (21 February 2019)

Quotes about Jean-Claude Juncker

• I was going to say he's a piece of work, but that might not translate too well. Is that all right, if I call you a 'piece of work'?
  • George W. Bush, June 20 2005
  • EuropeanVoice.