As widely expected, Jean-Claude Juncker has been confirmed as the EU's next European commission president. His nomination was approved by a comfortable majority of MEPs during a secret ballot style vote in Strasbourg on Tuesday.
The former Luxembourg prime minister received the backing of 422 MEPs, 46 more than the majority required.
Addressing MEPs ahead of the vote, Juncker explained his intended political strategy for the commission over the next five years; outlining a series of 10 key policy areas which he believed would "rebuild bridges in Europe…restore citizen's confidence…and strengthen [the EU's] democratic legitimacy".
"I want to work for a union that delivers….that is not meddlesome but works for its citizens rather than against them"
He said that he wanted to strengthen the relationship between the commission and European parliament, to put forward proposals reacting to ideas coming out of the parliament and was committed to introducing reform.
"I want to work for a union that delivers….that is not meddlesome but works for its citizens rather than against them, said Juncker, adding that "only the blind and deaf would disagree that there is a gap between the EU and its citizens. We need to take a broad-based approach on EU reform."
Highlighting a range of issues, from reform of the troika, increasing transparency in the EU-US TTIP negotiations and investing in a new €30bn jobs and growth programme, to promoting more gender balance and delivering a digital single market, Juncker pressed all the right pro-Europe buttons of parliament's mainstream political groups.
"I want to have a political dialogue with you [MEPs], not a technocratic one"
Despite a deal between parliament's main political groups that virtually guaranteed Juncker's confirmation, The Luxembourger went out of his way to praise the role of MEPs arguing that the commission under his leadership would be "committed" to developing the "special relationship" with parliament.
"I want to have a political dialogue with you [MEPs], not a technocratic one".
The political focus on the new commission president now turns to the make-up of his 27 strong team. Juncker will meet EU leaders in Brussels tomorrow to discuss their nominations.
His first clash with member states could come as soon as the Wednesday meeting as Juncker has vowed to ensure a significant gender balance within his team's portfolios.
"Gender balance is not a luxury, he told MEPs, "it is a political must and should be self-evident to everybody, including to the leaders of all capitals of our member states when it comes to their proposal for the choice of members of the next commission".