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EU state of the union: Juncker warns UK on single market | EU state of the union: Juncker warns UK on single market |
(35 minutes later) | |
EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has said the bloc is not at risk from Brexit, in his first State of the Union address since the UK's unexpected vote to leave the EU. | |
And he warned the UK that it could expect access to the EU's internal market without free movement of people. There could be no "a la carte access". | |
Mr Juncker also called for the formation of a common military force. | |
"We must have a European headquarters," he added. | |
The UK has always resisted the idea of a so-called EU army because of the potential conflict of interest with Nato. But its decision to leave the bloc has given added impetus to plans for greater defence co-operation. | |
BBC Democracy Live - minute-by-minute updates | BBC Democracy Live - minute-by-minute updates |
Brexit: All you need to know about the UK leaving the EU | |
Brexit vote revives dream of EU army | |
"This should be in complement to Nato," Mr Juncker said. "More defence in Europe doesn't mean less transatlantic solidarity." A European Defence Fund would stimulate military research and development, he said. | |
Much of his speech was devoted to the effects of Brexit. Splits had led to "galloping populism" and Europe had to be protected from them, he said. | |
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". | |
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. | |
Tusk warning | 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, their leader in the European Council - 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. | |
"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. | That remark contrasted with Mr Juncker's insistence on Wednesday that "too often, national interests are brought to the fore" in Europe. |
There were several other themes in Mr Juncker's speech, including: | |