European social-democratic leaders agreed Saturday to back centre-right EU political veteran Jean-Claude Juncker for European Commission president, dpa reported. "We have agreed that the social democrats accept that the EPP [European People's Party] won the European elections and Jean-Claude Juncker should be president of the European Commission," German Deputy Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel said. French President Francois Hollande had invited the centre-left leaders of seven countries - Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Italy, Romania, Slovakia and the Czech Republic - to Paris ahead of an EU summit next week. Germany was represented by Gabriel, leader of the country's Social Democratic Party. Gabriel, who is a partner with Merkel in Germany' grand coalition government, had earlier been demanding that Merkel award Schulz a commission job as a tribute to Social Democratic prestige. EU leaders continue to haggle over the bloc's top jobs after May elections. -- SPA 19:56 LOCAL TIME 16:56 GMT تغريد