Juncker

Jean-Claude Juncker (born 9 December 1954 in Redange-sur-Attert, Luxembourg) is a Luxembourgish politician who has been a central figure in both Luxembourg and European Union politics. A member of the Christian Social People's Party (CSV), he served as Prime Minister of Luxembourg from 1995 to 2013, leading several coalition governments and guiding Luxembourg’s economic modernization and its entry into the euro area.

From 2014 to 2019, Juncker was President of the European Commission, the EU’s executive branch. In this role, he oversaw the Commission’s response to the eurozone crisis and the strengthening of EU economic governance, including the European Semester and investment initiatives. His tenure also saw debates on sovereignty, fiscal policy, and the balance of powers between national governments and EU institutions, amid events such as the United Kingdom’s vote to leave the EU.

One notable policy initiative associated with his tenure is the Investment Plan for Europe, commonly known as the Juncker Plan, which sought to mobilize private investment through the European Fund for Strategic Investments. Juncker has been described as a pragmatic centrist and a key architect of EU economic reform, and he has received numerous national and international honors.