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| 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 has said, adding that the European Union is facing a battle for survival against nationalism in Europe. | |
| 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". | 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". |
| The speech has been heavily anticipated as the EU struggles with multiple crises, from the influx of refugees and migrants over the past years, multiple terror attacks and Britain's shock June referendum to leave the EU. | |
| 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", said Mr Juncker adding that the EU "still does not have enough Union". | |
| "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." | "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." |
| "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 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." | "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." |
| Directly referring to Brexit, Mr Juncker sought to quell fears that the EU was in turmoil. | |
| "Many are wondering whether Brexit is the beginning of the disintegration process of the EU," he said. | |
| "Allow me to state, we respect and at the same time regret the UK's decision, but the EU as such is not at risk." | |
| Mr Juncker also repeated previous assertions made by other EU leaders that Britain “could not have a la carte access” to the benefits of the EU after Brexit, and that the UK should trigger Article 50 "as quickly as possible". | |
| 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. | 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. |