In his annual State of the European Union address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Mr. Juncker warned that the European Union is facing “existential threats” in a battle for survival against nationalism in Europe.
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European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker proposed an “ambitious” plan on Wednesday for investment in Africa and EU neighbourhood partners, which will be able to mobilize 44 billion euros or double that amount if member states contribute. “It can go up to 88 billion if member states contribute”, Juncker told lawmakers.
Jean-Claude Juncker’s plans could also involve an European Union defence fund to develop combine military assets. Immigration was a major reason that led a majority of Britons to vote for a Brexit – exit from the EU. Juncker urged that to be done quickly and reiterated the European Union negotiating position that Britain could not retain its full European Union market access if it blocks free immigration from the EU.
The EUA also “strongly doubts” that the Commission’s goals “will be achievable” without diverting more money towards “the knowledge creation and new skills needed to improve Europe’s economy”.
More than one million people fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and Africa flooded into Europe previous year, sowing divisions across the bloc and fuelling the rise of far-right parties. “They don’t necessarily want us to do it incredibly fast”. The EU expects the new regulations to make up for the shortfall.
“Europe needs to toughen up”.
Juncker’s address represents the Commission’s contribution to the informal meeting of the 27 Heads of State or Government, which takes place on Friday in Bratislava. But Brexit means also that something was wrong in Britain. And, of course, in full complementarity with North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. That would bring European Union tariffs on United Kingdom goods and a deep shock to the British economy.
Set up last year to run for three years until 2018 with a target of mobilising €315bn of investment, the current EFSI target is based on €21bn of European Union money being leveraged 15 times by other investors.
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Juncker proposed to double the duration and financial capacity of a 315 billion-euro ($354 billion) infrastructure investment fund that he established after taking office in 2014.
