The European Commission today (3 November) faced a grilling from journalists after Germany’s Commissioner Günther Oettinger apologised for mocking women and gay marriage, and calling the Chinese “slitty eyes”.
Oettinger issued an official apology on Thursday, saying that “I had time to reflect on my speech, and I can now see that the words I used have created bad feelings and may even have hurt people.”
Commission Chief Spokesman Margaritis Schinas told reporters that Juncker had called Oettinger, which led to the apology.
Just 24 hours previously, Oettinger exclusively told euractiv.com he has nothing to apologise for.