Luxembourg

Juncker's new EU Commission may miss November start date

The new EU Commission led by Luxembourg's Jean-Claude Juncker may miss the official November 1 start of its five-year mandate after the European Parliament rejected Slovenia's commissioner

09.10.2014

Any delay could have implications for key areas covered by the Commission, the EU's executive arm, including a major bid to boost jobs and growth, the world's biggest trade deal with the US, and sanctions against Russia.

Juncker on Wednesday night suffered a major blow to his line-up for the Commission when lawmakers voted against former Slovenian prime minister Alenka Bratusek, who he had nominated for the role of vice president for energy union.