Jean-Claude Juncker, the European Union Commission President called for greater defense cooperation between countries and the establishment of a joint-command headquarters for EU military missions.
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Juncker wants to reinvigorate the union from within, despite the chorus of voices criticizing the EU’s centralized decision-making and institutions.
A future trade deal with Britain was not on the agenda at the summit, which focused on the challenges the European Union faces as a result of the Brexit vote – especially from migration.
“We must have a European HQ and. work towards a common military force”, said Juncker, referring to plans that have long faced British hostility and which will come up at Friday’s summit. A European army, a common defence and already in this house people are saying: “Well the Americans won’t be here any more we will have to stand alone with our own military structure”. “Indeed (Juncker’s speech) was the usual recipe – more Europe, in this particular case, more military Europe”.
Britain has always staunchly defended North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as the main military alliance and routinely blocked attempts to bolster European Union defense.
Cracking down on YouTube is a key demand of some the world’s biggest music artists who said in a letter to Juncker last June that YouTube was stealing value from streaming services, such as Spotify.
The proposal will need to be approved by the European Parliament and national ministers for plans to proceed. A great numerous European Union countries are current members of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, whose headquarters, the Supreme Allied Powers Europe, is now located in near Brussels in Belgium.
“Of course we want an agreement that represents some sort of mutual benefit. More competition and further integration of the European market will allow us to reach these goals, helped by the right environment created by the new Communications Code”.
His warning underlines the differences between Brussels and London over the terms of Britain’s exit.
“Diversity should also mean treating all countries equally”, he continued.
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Twenty-two of the EU’s 28-member states are also members of the US-led North Atlantic Treaty Organisation alliance, headquartered in Brussels, but Juncker insisted the bloc’s military ambitions would not undercut this key relationship. There could be no “a la carte access”, he said.
