European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker on Wednesday issued a rallying cry for unity after Brexit, saying the EU is not in danger of splitting up but must fight “galloping populism”. “And we are getting smaller”, Juncker said, adding that only standing together, however hard that is, can fix the problem. The most controversial part of the plan involves the EU’s copyright overhaul that would give journalism outlets more power to negotiate compensation from platforms, like Google News, that distribute their articles, photos, or videos. He also highlighted some of the successes he felt the European Union had achieved this year; namely the setting up of a strategic investment fund – one of his key manifesto promises.
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“There are huge economic interests, but there are also red lines”, he added, naming the freedom of movement by citizens of E.U. countries within the union as one example. “There are too many areas where … national interests are brought to the fore”, said Juncker, a complaint not very different from President Obama’s preference for norm-setting global institutions and rejecting American exceptionalism. Vacuum cleaner magnate James Dyson, one of Britain’s most successful entrepreneurs, said the government should leave the European Union immediately, then work out trade deals with the bloc and others.
With Europe facing its biggest migration crisis since World War II, Juncker also called for a new European Union border and coast guard force to start work quickly with 200 guards and 50 vehicles deployed in Bulgaria by next month.
“But without a permanent structure we can not act effectively”.
To assist in jump-starting growth, Juncker also wishes to increase the lifetime of the European Fund for Strategic Investments, often called the “Juncker Fund”, and double its financial capacity.
Jean Claude-Juncker today set out plans to organise a “common military force” across Europe in the wake of Britain’s decision to leave the EU. “Indeed (Juncker’s speech) was the usual recipe – more Europe, in this particular case, more military Europe”.
“Brexit is not a matter of punishment, it’s not a matter of revenge”, he said, addressing British eurosceptic members who have described him as an anti-British “fanatic” in his pursuit of a more closely integrated EU. “With member states contributing, we can get there even faster”, he said. European Union leaders meet Friday in Slovakia – without the United Kingdom – to try to steer a way past challenges including violent extremism, the refugee crisis and economic woes.
He insisted that the bloc was not at risk and urged Brexit negotiations to take place as quickly as possible.
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Will any European Union citizens who live in Britain now have to leave?
