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Jean-Claude Juncker was "moved and devastated" to learn of the death of former French leader Jacques Chirac.
Juncker wants to "pay tribute and honour his extensive lifelong work, and his legacy for France.
"Europe is not only losing a great statesman but the president is losing a great friend," European Commission spokeswoman Mina Andreeva quoted Juncker as saying.
Juncker wants to "pay tribute and honour his extensive lifelong work, and his legacy for France and the European Union will stay with us forever," she added.
"Even though one could have prepared for such a tragic moment the president has no words to express his grief and we'll be publishing shortly a longer declaration."