In a showpiece “state of the union” speech in the European Parliament Wednesday, he announced a new European Border and Coast Guard comprising 200 extra border guards and 50 extra vehicles deployed at the Bulgarian external borders from October.
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The speech was dominated by Britain’s shock referendum vote in June vote to leave the European Union, depriving it of a major, nuclear-armed North Atlantic Treaty Organisation military power but one which had also been hostile to any suggestion the bloc should have its own army. In addition, 5G – faster mobile internet than 4G – should be available in at least one city in every European Union member state by 2020.
“Of course Brexit means that something is wrong in Europe”.
“The next 12 months are the crucial time to deliver an EU that protects and preserves the European way of life, that defends our citizens at home and overseas, and takes responsibility”, he added.
As regards “tax fairness”, the Greens hailed the EU Commission’s efforts to fight Apple’s “shameful tax evasion” and called for a continuous cleanup of “frivolous tax schemes for corporations”. If one connection represents one user, its goal is to connect nearly one-tenth of the EU’s population each day. In the speech there was also a proposal to set up a joint command military headquarters – to support greater European Union defense cooperation.
“Much more solidarity is needed, but. that.must come from the heart”, Juncker said.
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.
Google said the proposal goes backwards. “Indeed it was the usual recipe – more Europe, in this particular case, more military Europe”.
Britain still has to officially trigger the exit negotiations to become the first member state to walk away from Europe’s biggest unity project.
When Britain was a member it was against such a move, preferring to put a reliance on North Atlantic Treaty Organisation forces. The commission has also redefined Internet access as a “universal service”.
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However, the EC digital single market plans – which are the result of two years of public consultation – were roundly criticised by internet rights campaign group OpenMedia.
