BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker will miss the G7 summit in France later this week following surgery to remove his gallbladder, a spokeswoman said on Monday.
The spokeswoman, Natasha Bertaud, said Juncker underwent successful surgery over the weekend but his doctors advised he should not travel.
"I can confirm that the surgery went well and that president Juncker currently remains in hospital in recovery," Bertaud told a daily news briefing in Brussels.
"His doctors have specified that he should not travel at this time, and we are also able to confirm that he will not be able to attend this weekend's G7 meeting."
She said Juncker would discuss G7 matters before the Saturday-Monday summit in Biarritz with the host, French President Emmanuel Macron, and European Council President Donald Tusk.
Juncker, a former Luxembourg premier, is due to step down on Oct. 31 as head of the Brussels-based Commission.
The EU institution proposes laws for the bloc, polices the economies of all member states and negotiates trade deals around the world.
(Reporting by Gabriela Baczynska, Alexandra Regida,; Editing by Alison Williams and Ros Russell)
