The president of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, hospitalized, will be absent from the G7 of Biarritz this week-end, announced a spokesperson of the Commission Monday.
Ablation of the gall bladder
Jean-Claude Juncker, 64, had to cut short his vacation to return urgently to Luxembourg and undergo this weekend a removal of the gall bladder. "The operation went well and he is currently recovering at the hospital and his doctors have recommended that he not travel," spokeswoman Natasha Bertaud said at the daily press briefing. The European leader will "not be able to attend the G7" in France, she added.
Juncker will leave his post at the end of October
Jean-Claude Juncker will not be replaced for the summit and the spokeswoman recalled that in the past the EU had already been represented only by the President of the Commission or the President of the European Council. The politician must leave the presidency of the Commission on 31 October after a five-year term. He will be replaced by the German Ursula von der Leyen, former Defense Minister of his country.