This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/brexit-latest-news-live-eu-jean-claude-juncker-speech-europe-latest-updates-a7288296.html

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Jean-Claude Juncker says Brexit talks must start 'as soon as possible' Jean-Claude Juncker says Brexit talks must start 'as soon as possible'
(35 minutes later)
Brexit talks should begin “as soon as possible”, the president of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker has said.  Brexit talks should begin “as soon as possible”, the President of the European Commission has said, adding that the European Union is facing a "battle for survival" against nationalism in Europe. 
Delivering the annual “State of the Union” speech, Mr Juncker sought to ease tensions in the increasingly divided continent, focussing on the theme of "solidarity".  Delivering a “State of the Union” speech to the European Parliament in Strasbour, which sought to ease tensions and rally support for the EU, Jean-Claude Juncker warned the bloc is facing an "existential threat". 
He told legislators EU integration cannot be left to the interests of individual member states alone. Warning that the EU faces an existential threat from the kind of rising nationalism that led Britain to vote to leave the bloc, Mr Juncker said "too often national interests are brought to the fore".  "A year ago I stated that the state of the European Union leaves much to be desired... It still applies," Mr Juncker began. "The scope in which we cooperate together is far too small."
Addressing the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Mr Juncker was expected to announce a major extension to the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), as well as a new fund to foster the private sector in Africa as way of curbing emigration to Europe, along with initiatives to promote the expansion of high-speed Internet and a single market in digital services, EU officials said. "Far too often national interests are brought to the fore. We shouldn't misunderstand this - European integration must not bow to the interests of the nation state. Europe cannot become a colourless melting pot."
"We want to construct. We want a better Europe. Europe is not going down the path of nationalisation, it can never become that type of national area, but there splits out there and often fragmentation exists where we need further effort from the union, and that is leaving room for galloping populism."
"We can't accept that because populism doesn't solve problems. Populism creates problems, and we have to be aware of that and protect ourselves against it."
He told the legislators that EU integration cannot be left to the interests of individual member states alone and insisted that "too often national interests are brought to the fore." 
He was setting out the Commission's plans for the first time since the UK voted to exit the EU on June 23.He was setting out the Commission's plans for the first time since the UK voted to exit the EU on June 23.
Mr Juncker was expected to announce a major extension to the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), as well as a new fund to foster the private sector in Africa as way of curbing emigration to Europe, along with initiatives to promote the expansion of high-speed Internet and a single market in digital services, EU officials said.
He was also expected to argue for the benefits of the Union as a mechanism for maintaining peace and evening out economic hardships, stressing a positive agenda to try and reconnect with voters disillusioned by years of austerity and fearful of terrorist violence and mass immigration.He was also expected to argue for the benefits of the Union as a mechanism for maintaining peace and evening out economic hardships, stressing a positive agenda to try and reconnect with voters disillusioned by years of austerity and fearful of terrorist violence and mass immigration.
But the Juncker address was expected to offer few clues to the negotiations with London that the EU insists cannot start until Prime Minister Theresa May formally sets starts a two-year countdown to British departure. A summit of the 27 EU leaders in Bratislava on Friday is also unlikely to shed much light on the Brexit issue.But the Juncker address was expected to offer few clues to the negotiations with London that the EU insists cannot start until Prime Minister Theresa May formally sets starts a two-year countdown to British departure. A summit of the 27 EU leaders in Bratislava on Friday is also unlikely to shed much light on the Brexit issue.