Jean-Claude Juncker

Jean-Claude Juncker is currently President of the Governing Board of the Academy of European Law (ERA) and a Non-Institutional Special Adviser to the European Commission, offering expert counsel on European policy and integration. He is also a regular speaker at universities and think tanks across Europe. After studying law at the University of Strasbourg, Juncker began his political career in Luxembourg, where he served as Minister of Finance before becoming Prime Minister for nearly 18 years—the longest-serving head of government in the EU. He was instrumental in shaping the Maastricht Treaty and the creation of the euro, earning recognition as one of the “founding fathers” of the single currency. From 2005 to 2013, he chaired the Eurogroup and oversaw the EU’s response to the sovereign debt crisis. From 2014 to 2019, he served as President of the European Commission, guiding the EU through major challenges such as the migration crisis and Brexit. Honoured with the International Charlemagne Prize and other distinctions, he remains an influential figure in European affairs.