Sweden adds to scepticism around Juncker for EU Commission

(STOCKHOLM) - Sweden on Monday stepped up to join Britain in opposing the candidacy of Jean-Claude Juncker for the presidency of the European Commission, backing a push by some reform-minded EU states for an alternative candidate.

Speaking ahead of a visit to Sweden by the leaders of Britain, Germany and the Netherlands, Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt criticised the process by which Juncker emerged as the frontrunner for the job, dealing a fresh blow to his candidacy.

"Sweden's position is that there has been an attempt to reject the way this decision is made," he told public broadcaster Sveriges Radio (SR). That referred to an agreement to appoint the Commission's president in line with the majority group in the European Parliament, to which Juncker belongs.

The process has been criticised for lacking transparency or public support. Proponents of greater European integration have sought to link the Commission presidency to the European Parliament elections.

Reinfeldt, however, made the case that elected national leaders, rather than the European Parliament, should choose the Commission's president.

"Sweden tends to be concerned about transferring national influence to Brussels and I try to stick to what the treaties say," he said.

Juncker, a former prime minister of Luxembourg, has faced strong opposition to his bid to lead the Commission from some EU members seeking reform of the 28-member bloc.

British Prime Minister David Cameron, who is pushing for reform in the European Union to allow greater autonomy for members ahead of a referendum on Britain's membership in 2017, has been among the most vocal.

Juncker is seen as favouring even greater integration between EU members, and thus presents a barrier to Cameron's plans.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has opposed Jucker's candidacy for similar reasons, while German Chancellor Angela Merkel has given her government's support but expressed a willingness to compromise.

Despite adding his voice to the opposition to Juncker's bid, Reinfeldt stopped short of backing Cameron's bid to change the EU treaty, saying the issue was "complicated" in an interview with the Financial Times published on Monday.

Reinfeldt added that there were no plans to discuss the issue at a mini-summit on the European economy with his counterparts from Germany, Britain and the Netherlands starting Monday evening.

"We have agreed to not discuss it," he told SR.

"I think that the nomination issue will be resolved at the summit at the end of June."