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EU state of the union: Juncker warns UK on single market | |
(35 minutes later) | |
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has begun his first State of the Union address since the UK's unexpected vote to leave the bloc. | |
He warned the UK that access to the internal market relied on the free movement of people. There could be no "a la carte access", he said. | |
Mr Juncker is aiming to rally the 27 countries staying in the EU to the challenges of migration and security. | |
The EU was not "at risk" from Brexit, he insisted. | |
But splits had led to "galloping populism" and Europe had to be protected from them. | |
In a blunt criticism of recent attacks on immigrants in the UK, he said he would "never accept Polish workers being beaten up and harassed on the streets of Essex". | |
BBC Democracy Live - minute-by-minute updates | |
Tusk warning | |
EU leaders meet in Slovakia's capital Bratislava on Friday - without UK Prime Minister Theresa May. | EU leaders meet in Slovakia's capital Bratislava on Friday - without UK Prime Minister Theresa May. |
Late on Tuesday, European Council President Donald Tusk made his own intervention into the debate on the EU's future. | Late on Tuesday, European Council President Donald Tusk made his own intervention into the debate on the EU's future. |
In a letter - traditionally written to leaders ahead of a summit - Mr Tusk suggested the EU should be mindful of its own ambitions in light of the Brexit vote. | In a letter - traditionally written to leaders ahead of a summit - Mr Tusk suggested the EU should be mindful of its own ambitions in light of the Brexit vote. |
"The keys to a healthy balance between the priorities of member states and those of the Union lie in national capitals," Mr Tusk said. | "The keys to a healthy balance between the priorities of member states and those of the Union lie in national capitals," Mr Tusk said. |
"The institutions should support the priorities as agreed among member states, and not impose their own ones." | "The institutions should support the priorities as agreed among member states, and not impose their own ones." |
That remark contrasted with Mr Juncker's insistence on Wednesday that "too often, national interests are brought to the fore" in Europe. | |
Later, he urged a renewed focus on the union as a "driving force that can bring about unification - for instance in Cyprus". | |
"Above all, Europe means peace - it is no coincidence that the longest period of peace began with the formation of the European community," he said. |