Jean-Claude Juncker claims to have cut down to 10 cigarettes a day as he prepares for Luxembourg's presidency of the European Union, a health regime he reveals as he stubs out his sixth butt during the course of an hour-long interview.

Mr Juncker, to a considerable extent, is the Luxembourg presidency, which begins on January 1. Not only is he Luxembourg's prime minister, he is also its finance minister putting him in control of some of the biggest decisions facing the European Union.