Rivals for Brussels top job mark out territory live on euronews

Four of the five candidates for the job of President of the European Commission, 2014-2019 went head-to-head live in a TV debate for the first time on the 28 April 2014.

The candidates, Jean-Claude Juncker (European People’s Party), Martin Schulz (Party of European Socialists), Guy Verhofstadt (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party), and Ska Keller (European Green Party) answered questions that were gathered from thousands of young people from all over Europe.

The candidates then debated key issues, such as foreign policy, the future of the EU, and youth employment.

The fifth Presidential candidate SYRIZA chief Alexis Tsipras from Greece did not appear, but committed to taking part in the tv debate on the 15 May 2014.

A further EU presidential debate was hosted by the European University Institute in Florence on the 9 May 2014 as part of the EUI's State of the Union 2014 conference.

A further (but separately organised) tv debate was planned by Eurovision on the 15 May 2014.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: European Parliament: Election, May 2014 http://www.europeansources.info/record/european-parliament-election-may-2014/

ESO: Background information: The European Parliament’s election of the President of the European Commission http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-european-parliaments-election-of-the-president-of-the-european-commission/

Blog: European Public Affairs.eu, 30.04.14: #EUDebate2014 – EU Commission candidates outline their policies, but was anybody listening? http://www.europeanpublicaffairs.eu/eudebate2014-eu-commission-candidates-outline-their-policies-but-was-anybody-listening/?utm_source=feedly&utm_reader=feedly&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=eudebate2014-eu-commission-candidates-outline-their-policies-but-was-anybody-listening

Website: 28 April 2014: Maastricht First European Presidential Debate http://www.eudebate2014.eu/

European Youth Forum: Press Release, 29.04.14: Historical success for the First ever European Presidential Debate http://www.youthforum.org/pressrelease/historical-success-for-the-first-ever-european-presidential-debate/

EUObserver, 02.05.14: No fireworks, we're European – the EU presidential debates http://euobserver.com/news/123949

ESO: Background information: Officials seek greater EU election turnout with televised 'presidential debate' http://www.europeansources.info/record/officials-seek-greater-eu-election-turnout-with-televised-presidential-debate/

EurActiv, 30.04.14: Twitter wins at Maastricht presidential debate http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-elections-2014/twitter-wins-maastricht-presidential-debate-301844

BBC News, 29.04.14: EU rivals in TV battle for votes http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-eu-27202791

Website: EBU: Eurovision debate http://www.eurovisiondebate.tv/

Kathimerini, 02.05.14: Conspicuous absence http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite3_1_02/05/2014_539409

LSE EuroppBlog, 13.05.14: The debates between candidates for Commission President have a long way to go if they are to generate real engagement with EU citizens http://bit.ly/1jbwNxJ

EurActiv, 09.05.14: Few differences between Schulz and Juncker in German TV debate http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-elections-2014/few-differences-between-schulz-and-juncker-german-tv-debate-302036

EUObserver, 09.05.14: German TV duel gives flavour of EU grand coalition http://euobserver.com/eu-elections/124069

The Guardian, 19.05.14: The EC presidential debate was a bad advert for democracy in Europe http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/may/19/ec-presidential-debate-bad-advert-democracy

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