With Europe wracked by fears over extremism, the refugee emergency and economic woes, Juncker told legislators that European Union integration can not be for individual member states to manage alone and insisted that “too often national interests are brought to the fore”.
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In his annual speech to the European Parliament, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said no single EU government had a military big enough to deal with security challenges on Europe’s doorstep, from Islamic militants to a more hostile Russian Federation.
In his annual State of the Union speech, Juncker urged European Union nations to overcome deep divisions and the shock of Britain’s departure in order to fight back against “galloping populism”.
More than three-quarters of European Union government defence contracts are awarded to their national industries, while the bloc has 19 types of armoured infantry fighting vehicle, compared to just one in the United States, according to European Union data.
Digital technologies are changing the way music, films, TV, radio, books and the press are produced, distributed and accessed.
Günther H. Oettinger, Commissioner for the Digital Economy and Society, added that connectivity is “a key prerequisite for Europe’s digital future”, as innovations such as the cloud, big data and the Internet of Things demand “secure and ubiquitous connectivity, with the best speed and quality”.
“We need to be connected”.
President Juncker spoke about the need of investment in young people, job seekers and start-ups to boost innovativeness and job creation.
Nigel Farage – a leader of the campaign for the U.K.to leave – said the speech was more of the bad old European Union, of increased power-grabbing.
“This has the potential to create two million jobs in the European Union”.
The European Commission wants to see free wi-fi provided in parks, squares, libraries and public buildings within four years.
“As the world goes digital, we also have to empower our artists and creators and protect their works”.
European Commission leader Jean-Claude Juncker issued a call for unity among the eastern and western European countries during his State of the European Union address Wednesday, as tensions continue to swell among member states following Britain’s leave vote.
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He highlighted proposals that include moving toward a common military force complementary with North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, starting with an European Union military headquarters. Juncker defended that such a move “should be in complement to North Atlantic Treaty Organisation”. “The business case is clear”.
