Juncker tells near-empty EU parliament: 'You are ridiculous'

By Gilbert Reilhac

 

FILE PHOTO: President of the EU Commission Jean-Claude Junckerlistens during a news conference in Tallinn, Estonia, June 30, 2017. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins

 

STRASBOURG (Reuters) - EU chief executive Jean-Claude Juncker called European lawmakers "ridiculous" on Tuesday for failing to turn up to an address by Malta's prime minister, saying they should show more respect for smaller members of the bloc.

 

Juncker, himself from the small Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, was visibly annoyed as he watched the proceedings in the near empty parliamentary chamber in Strasbourg.

 

"You are ridiculous," the European Commission president told the gathering called to listen to a speech by Malta's Joseph Muscat, in a blunt public rebuke of another EU institution.

 

"The fact that there's about 30 members of parliament present in this debate only really illustrates the fact that parliament is not serious," he said. "The European Parliament is ridiculous, very ridiculous."

 

Juncker said Malta, the EU's smallest country, which has just completed a stint running the bloc's presidency, deserved better.

"If Mr. Muscat was Mrs Merkel, difficult as that is to imagine, or Mr Macron ... we would have a full house," Juncker said, referring to the leaders of Germany and France.

 

Parliament president Antonio Tajani did not address the low attendance, but told Juncker himself to take a more respectful tone. "You may criticise the parliament, yes, but the Commission does not control the parliament, it's the parliament that should be controlling the Commission," he said, to scattered applause.

 

Juncker later apologised to Tajani, a parliamentary spokesman said. Juncker's Dutch deputy defended the outburst as the mark of a "passionate" politician: "Jean-Claude has a habit of letting his heart speak," Frans Timmermans told reporters.

 

Institutional rivalries are a staple of EU political life. Juncker's Commission is a frequent target of national leaders and EU lawmakers for trying to impose the views of the Brussels-based administration on elected bodies.Juncker often accuses member states of reneging on commitments or undermining the EU and has used the parliament as an ally against national demands.

 

But the Commission shares with the Council of member states a mistrust of Parliament's ambitions. Lawmakers' powers over EU legislation were enhanced by the 2009 Lisbon Treaty but national governments scoff at its claims to be the most democratically legitimate EU body because fewer than half the bloc's voters bother to take part in European elections.

 

Its treaty obligation to divide its sittings between Brussels and Strasbourg is also a source of embarrassment -- and costs -- for the legislature, though there was little sign that travelling had kept the chamber empty for Muscat on Tuesday. Later on, it was packed for other parliamentary business.

 

Slightly more than 400,000 people live on Malta, putting it just behind Luxembourg in the EU population league table.

 

Muscat, who smiled during Juncker's remarks, gave parliament a briefing on his country's presidency, focused on the migration crisis and called Brexit a "disastrous creature which all of us should have seen coming but none of us acted to stop".

 

(Writing by Elizabeth Miles in Brussels; Editing by Alastair Macdonald and Catherine Evans)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-07-05

So, EU rules are not made by an elected body, but by an administration, and these rules are then imposed on elected bodies...

Poor Junker....not the slightest bit aware that the whole EU circus is going to tumble down on the mid-term run...

Juncker tells near-empty EU parliament: 'You are ridiculous'

 

These could be the most sensible words Juncker has ever spoken

There will be even less members in Parliament,when the British finally 

 detach themselves from the EU, they will have to let Turkey or some

N.African join to keep the numbers up.

regards worgeordie

But don't worry , those members of parliament who weren't there , will still get paid.

1 hour ago, webfact said:

"The fact that there's about 30 members of parliament present in this debate only really illustrates the fact that parliament is not serious," he said. "The European Parliament is ridiculous, very ridiculous."

Maybe he could try to increase their salaries a bit above 150.000 GBP after taxes, because be honest who would want to work for that money.

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/10847979/10000-European-Union-officials-better-paid-than-David-Cameron.html

 

 

Juncker is a w**ker.

1 hour ago, trogers said:

So, EU rules are not made by an elected body, but by an administration, and these rules are then imposed on elected bodies...

I've got news for you. That's how it works in virtually every democratic nation. The legislative bodies pass laws, but then the bureaucracy has to create rules to enforce those laws.

Well at least he said it and didn't just tweet it.  

1 hour ago, observer90210 said:

Poor Junker....not the slightest bit aware that the whole EU circus is going to tumble down on the mid-term run...

Now that, as as predicted by so many Brexiters, Le Pen is President of France, and Merkel is on her way out, I see no way your prediction could fail.

42 minutes ago, BuaBS said:

But don't worry , those members of parliament who weren't there , will still get paid.

So when a British MP doesn't show up for a session, his or her pay is docked?  

And what makes the hypocrisy of the critics of Juncker here so blatant is that he was reproaching the MEPs for not respecting a small nation.  Which is just the opposite of what his critics would have you believe are his true sentiments.

8 minutes ago, ilostmypassword said:

So when a British MP doesn't show up for a session, his or her pay is docked?  

Not really, in fact he can get 2 day allowances per day of 304 Euro each, without showing up.

 

http://en.euabc.com/word/814

 

Daily allowance. In addition, MEPs will receive daily allowances for each day they sign in in the Parliaments` buildings in Brussels or Strasbourg. The daily allowance is € 304 per day. It is meant to cover rent and extra household but is also paid to members e.g. living in and elected in Brussels. 

A MEP can sign in 10 pm in the evening and 7 am in the morning and receive 2 days' daily allowance without having taken part in any meeting or other relevant parliamentary activity. 

11 minutes ago, ilostmypassword said:

So when a British MP doesn't show up for a session, his or her pay is docked?  

Just now, janclaes47 said:

Not really, in fact he can get 2 day allowances per day of 304 Euro each, without showing up.

 

http://en.euabc.com/word/814

 

Daily allowance. In addition, MEPs will receive daily allowances for each day they sign in in the Parliaments` buildings in Brussels or Strasbourg. The daily allowance is € 304 per day. It is meant to cover rent and extra household but is also paid to members e.g. living in and elected in Brussels. 

A MEP can sign in 10 pm in the evening and 7 am in the morning and receive 2 days' daily allowance without having taken part in any meeting or other relevant parliamentary activity. 

I was referring to a British MP, Member of Parliament. Not a British MEP, Member of the European Parliament.

 

 

47 minutes ago, ilostmypassword said:

I've got news for you. That's how it works in virtually every democratic nation. The legislative bodies pass laws, but then the bureaucracy has to create rules to enforce those laws.

Not really. The Cabinet has to first okay the rules written, and then passed on to the President or King/Queen.

1 hour ago, ilostmypassword said:

And what makes the hypocrisy of the critics of Juncker here so blatant is that he was reproaching the MEPs for not respecting a small nation.  Which is just the opposite of what his critics would have you believe are his true sentiments.

Thanks for pointing out the obvious point in the Op

They were to busy shopping in their own shopping mall for cheaper goods than we can buy or counting their "attendance" money for signing the book

Sent from my SM-A720F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

1 hour ago, Caps said:

Thanks for pointing out the obvious point in the Op

Given the comments of some of the posters here it was clear that they had missed it and that it needed pointing out.

Is there no end to greed and self aggrandizement by politicians and their bureaucrats?

2 hours ago, trogers said:

Not really. The Cabinet has to first okay the rules written, and then passed on to the President or King/Queen.

Not really the cabinet may propose but its Parliament that disposes. Without the authority of Parliament then nothing the cabinet okays gets anywhere. 

4 hours ago, ilostmypassword said:

And what makes the hypocrisy of the critics of Juncker here so blatant is that he was reproaching the MEPs for not respecting a small nation.  Which is just the opposite of what his critics would have you believe are his true sentiments.

 

He may have been genuinely annoyed by the lack of courtesy he believed was due to Malta's leader. He may have also saw this as a slight to himself and the Commission. There is clear rivalries between EU institutions as there are in all organizations.

 

However, when rebuked by the EU Parliament, which also reminded him who the boss is, he apologized. 

 

Juncker is a long serving career politician who helped create Luxembourg as a tax haven, and allegedly, was instrumental in EU attempts to stop large corporations avoiding tax. He's now in a very good position, attending G20, G7 meetings with the leaders of EU countries that are members of those groups, as well as being in a secure job that pays a very generous salary package, with very generous retirement provisions. 

 

With his experience, he should know better the boundaries of his position and comment accordingly. The Commission is an area, I believe, Macron has in mind when he talks of necessary reforms. That will be an interesting power struggle.

Juncker look in the mirror, then see whose is more ridiculous you or those others.

i am fairly certain that juncker went straight from university to politics.  never had a real job in his life.  most politicians with this background are totally useless.  they just collect salary and enjoy spending taxpayer money when they travel first class on 'business'

Tells a near empty parliament. Does he think they give a toss. As the German President told AFD. The elite are not the problem the people are.

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Juncker said Malta, the EU's smallest country, which has just completed a stint running the bloc's presidency, deserved better.

"If Mr. Muscat was Mrs Merkel, difficult as that is to imagine, or Mr Macron ... we would have a full house," Juncker said, referring to the leaders of Germany and France.

 

Juncker and all the smaller country members had better get used to seeing Merkel and Macron ruling the EU roost, as that is the future.

On 7/5/2017 at 3:03 PM, lvr181 said:

Is there no end to greed and self aggrandizement by politicians and their bureaucrats?

No - they are never going to end.

 

Death, Taxes, Politicians and Bureaucrats.

On 7/5/2017 at 10:00 PM, Mosha said:

Tells a near empty parliament. Does he think they give a toss. As the German President told AFD. The elite are not the problem the people are.

Sent from my iris 505 using Tapatalk
 

So true.  Whether you liked Reagan of not, he summed them up perfectly:

 

 

Government is like a baby. An alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and no responsibility at the other.

 

 

 

1 minute ago, ELVIS123456 said:

So true.  Whether you liked Reagan of not, he summed them up perfectly:

 

 

Government is like a baby. An alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and no responsibility at the other.

 

 

 

On the one hand I didn't like Reagan; on the other, his statement was typical cracker-barrel BS.

reagan most likely oversaw the most covert/illegal operations ever performed by US agencies.  but he benefitted from the fall of communism, and his actions had little to do with this.