Juncker expected back at work next week

Commission president ‘has returned home from hospital’ after surgery.

Jean-Claude Juncker is expected back in his office next week after undergoing surgery, a European Commission spokeswoman said on Friday.

The president of the Commission “has returned home from the hospital,” spokeswoman Annika Breidthardt said during the Commission’s daily press briefing. He “is at home, is recovering well and we expect him back in the office next week,” she added.

Juncker, 64, had surgery on November 11 “to treat an aneurysm,” Commission spokesperson Mina Andreeva told POLITICO at the end of October, adding that the president was fine but the surgery needed “to be done.”

Juncker’s time in office is coming to an end as on Friday afternoon EU ambassadors are expected to approve a Council document that will trigger the ratification process for the new Commission led by Germany’s Ursula von der Leyen, even though the U.K has not put forward a commissioner. The European Parliament is then expected to vote on the new Commission next Wednesday.