Juncker gets the green light for his new team

Brussels

THE European Union's (EU) incoming chief executive, Jean-Claude Juncker, won the approval of Parliament on Wednesday for his new team of commissioners after vowing to revive the stagnant economy and tackle a raft of foreign policy challenges.

Lawmakers at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France voted by 423 to 209 in favour of the new European Commission with 67 abstentions, allowing Mr Juncker's line-up to start its five-year mandate as planned on Nov 1.

In a speech before the vote, Mr Juncker said he would present a huge US$380 billion investment package to boost jobs and growth by Christmas, amid global fears of a return …