France, Britain win key jobs in new EU line-up

BRUSSELS, Sept 10 (AFP) : France and Britain on Wednesday secured top positions in incoming European Commission president Jean Claude-Juncker's new team, which must tackle a stagnant economy, rising euroscepticism and the Ukraine crisis on its borders.

Former French finance minister Pierre Moscovici was named as the commissioner for economic affairs, the most coveted job in the new regime which will run Brussels for the next five years.

Britain, whose place in the EU is under threat from a surge in eurosceptism at home, scored a coup by winning the financial services post for its nominee Jonathan Hill, the ex-head of Britain's House of Lords.

"I am convinced it will be a winning team," Juncker told a press conference.

The former Luxembourg prime minister also appointed some of his 27-member line-up to a team of so-called "super commissioners" to oversee huge areas of policy seen as most crucial for the EU, particularly boosting growth and jobs.