In an angry outburst, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker called MEPs “ridiculous” for not turning up to a session reviewing the six-month presidency of Malta.<br /><br />Junker addressed MEPs in the Strasbourg chamber thanking them for attending, before stating that the fact only 30 had turned up showed that the parliament was “not serious”.<br /><br />The commission president then exchanged heated words with Parliament President Antonio Tajani who implored him to “have a more respectful attitude”.<br /><br />“You may criticise the parliament … but the commission does not control the parliament. It should be the parliament that controls the commission,” he said.<br /><br />The incident proved one of the most bitter disputes between EU officials over the last few years.<br />
