European Parliament approves Juncker as Commission head

Designated president of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker addresses the European Parliament during a debate on his election at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, July 15, 2014. REUTERS/Vincent Kessler reuters_tickers

STRASBOURG (Reuters) – The European Parliament approved on Tuesday former Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker as president of the European Commission, which shapes policy for the EU’s 500 million citizens.

Juncker, 59, will take up the five-year post as soon as a new Commission is formed, which is expected to happen on Nov. 1 but could take longer. He will succeed Jose Manuel Barroso of Portugal who has held the post for 10 years.

(Reporting by Julia Fioretti; editing by Robin Emmott)