Former European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker has criticized outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s reaction to Greece’s debt crisis, saying that her “hesitations” and “reluctance” undermined efforts to deal with the situation. “I think her biggest failure was the reluctance she showed during the Greek crisis because of her hesitations and …
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Juncker endorses crisis-narrative about “lazy and corrupt Greeks”
Former president of the European Commission endorsed the narrative of “non-working, lazy and corrupt Greeks,” a slogan massively used during the Greek economic crisis. In an interview with the Greek service of euronews, Juncker said: “There were a few. They were enough. Mostly in the so-called “Orthodox north” of the …
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France, Netherlands, Denmark block EU accession of North Macedonia, Albania
French President Emmanuel Macron blocked on Friday the begin of EU accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania. In support of French position were also the Netherlands and Denmark. The EU Summit deeply disappointed the two Balkan countries, as unanimity is required for new EU member states. Macron said the …
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Juncker: “Aid to Greece has not cost anyone a single euro!”
Outgoing European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said that “Greek aid has not cost a single euro.” He pointed out that “the euro would be at risk of collapse” should Greece or any other country leave the eurozone. HE said among other that Greece forged its statistics in order to become …
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Court of Justice orders Commission & Juncker to return to Greece €72million
The European Court of Justice has ruled that the European Commission has to pay to Greece the amount of more than 72 million euros. The amount refers to EU Agricultural Funds that the Commission has illegally withheld. Greece is to get back 72,105,592.41 euros in funds that the European Commission …
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Juncker: EU showed ‘lack of solidarity’ to Greece during the economic crisis
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker expressed regret that the European Union had not shown sufficient solidarity with Greece when the crisis erupted. Speaking at the event EUROAT20 in Strasbourg on Tuesday marking the 20th year since the launch of the euro currency, Juncker said that the austerity policies were not …
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Populist Alliance has EU leadership paralyzed in its Brussels bubble
Italy’s far-right Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini and French populist Marie LePen met in Rome on Monday to seal a unholy alliance: they declared that they are the anti-establishment movement within the European Union. Salvini slammed the European Union for budget restrictions and austerity, the migration crisis as well as …
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Juncker warns of possible military conflicts in the Balkans
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker warned that there is a danger of new military conflicts in the Balkans, if the countries of the region are left without European perspective. It is worth noting that Juncker’s warning comes ahead of efforts by FYROM Prime Minister Zoran Zaev to push constitutional changes …
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Juncker praises “Greeks’ Herculean efforts”, urges EP to hail these efforts
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker praised Greeks’ Herculean efforts and urged members of the European Parliament to hail these efforts. Addressing the EP on Wednesday morning and delivering his annual State of the Union speech, Juncker noted that Greece has succeeded in concluding the stability program and can stand on …
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EU Juncker to propose stop switching time, Summer Time forever
“Millions of EU citizens said they don’t want keep changing the clocks anymore,” the President of European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker told German state broadcaster ZDF on Friday morning. A survey conducted by the EU Commission in revealed that 80% of EU citizens wants the end of the practice to switch …
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Juncker stumbles and sways at NATO Summit gala dinner (videos)
European Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker was attending a gala dinner at the NATO summit in Brussels with world leaders including US President Donald Trump. A photo shooting was to take place. Juncker was seen stumbling, walking awkwardly and losing his balance several times. Juncker was swaying to the extent that …
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Greece’s Creditors troll Greeks: The best of Eurogroup quotes
One after the other, the heavy weights of the Eurozone took the floor after the extensive and exhausting 9-hour Eurogroup meeting on Thursday. They started to congratulate each other and praise the deal they reached with Greece. In fact, they did not reach any deal that normally occurs after lengthy …
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Trump called me a ‘brutal killer’ but I’m not sure what he meant, EU’s Junker says
Trump called me a ‘brutal killer’ but I’m not sure what he meant, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said. The US president’s strange remark may have been intended as a compliment, muses the European Commission president. Jean-Claude Juncker has been called many things during his premiership of Luxembourg and presidency …
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Juncker’s cheap stereotypes exposed: “Italians need to work harder, be less corrupt”
Arrogant, narrow-minded, superficial, full of low-level stereotypes, bias and hypocrisy… For one more time the leadership of the European Union exposed that what it seems a benevolent I-love-bella-Italia -attitude is nothing more than a deep rooted prejudice attitude of Central and North Europe towards the people of the European South. …
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US implements steel & aluminium tariffs, EU threatens with retaliation
A bad day for world trade: US moves forward with imposing tariffs on steel and aluminium, without exception for Canada, Mexico and the European block. The new measures 25% percent on steel and 10% on aluminium go into effect on 1. June 2018, US time. The European Union threatens with …
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Greece tops list of EU countries benefiting from Juncker’s investment Plan
Greece is at the top of the list of European countries benefiting from the Juncker plan that targets growth, based on the country’s annual economic output, according to a tweet from the European Commission on Friday morning. The #JunckerPlan is now set to trigger €283.7 billion in investments, representing 90% …
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Turkey slams Juncker over release of two Greek soldiers
Turkey’s Foreign Ministry on April 26 rejected a statement by EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on the detention of two Greek soldiers in Turkey. “With these remarks … EU authorities lose their credibility and reliability day by day,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy said in a statement. Aksoy’s remarks came …
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Juncker praises Greeks, forgets Referendum, avoids collapsing in front of cameras
President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker is a man that truly inspires. Not always in positive way, though. Sometimes like today, on an official visit to Greece, Juncker caught for one more time trying to sell mirrors and pearls to the locals. ” I always fought in favor of …
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Juncker slams as “ridiculous” Turkish claims about the two Greek soldiers
The President of the European Commission, Jean Claude Juncker labeled Turkish claims that the two Greek soldiers being held in a prison in Adrianople posed a threat “ridiculous”, French news agency AFP reported. The President of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani was in total agreement with the EC President. Speaking …
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Turkish court extends custody for two Greek soldiers in Edirne high security prison
The prosecutor of the court in Edirne – Adrianoupolis – extended on Tuesday noon the custody for the two Greek soldiers currently in high security prison of the city. Their lawyers had submitted a release application. Now they will be allowed to submit a new release application after one month, …
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