Juncker apologizes to Tajani for calling Parliament ridiculous

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker wrote a one-page note to European Parliament President Antonio Tajani apologizing for “losing his temper” when he called the assembly “ridiculous,” according to Parliament officials familiar with the matter.

Hours after the pair’s angry exchange in the European Parliament Tuesday, Juncker met Tajani privately, according to aides to both, and handed him the letter.

“Cher Antonio, je m’excuse de m’être emporté ce matin. Je regrette cet incident. Tu connais le respect que j’ai pour le parlement,” Juncker wrote in the hand-written note. (“Dear Antonio, I excuse myself for losing my temper this morning. I regret this incident. You know the respect that I have for the Parliament.”)

Earlier Tuesday, Tajani had demanded Juncker adopt more “respectful behavior” and “use different language,” saying it was “not up to the Commission to control the Parliament,” after Juncker had criticized MEPs for what he saw as poor attendance at a speech by the Maltese prime minister.

Commission spokesperson Alexander Winterstein confirmed Wednesday that Juncker had offered his regrets in writing, adding that “Juncker is a friend of the European Parliament” and friends “are there to sometimes tell you uncomfortable truths. This is what president Juncker did.”

In his letter, Juncker said the Commission and the Parliament need to continue to work together for the sake of European citizens and must strengthen their co-operation, according to the officials.

After the private meeting Tuesday, Tajani had declared the “matter closed,” according to Parliament spokesperson Jaume Duch Guillot.

The letter was then read out by Tajani on Wednesday afternoon to the chairs of the Parliament’s political groups, according to sources present at the closed door meeting.

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