Jean-Claude Juncker used his annual State of the Union address to try to heal rifts in the EU as he acknowledged that the bloc was suffering an “existential crisis” following Britain’s shock vote to leave.
“Never before have I seen such little common ground between our member states. So few areas where they agree to work together . . . Never before have I seen national governments so weakened by the forces of populism and paralysed by the risk of defeat in the next elections,” Mr Juncker told MEPs, adding: “Our European Union is, at least in part, in an existential crisis.”
“Europeans want concrete solutions to the very pertinent problem that our Union is facing. And they want more than promises, resolutions and summit conclusions. They have heard and seen these too often” president Junker said.
And so he went on to propose policies and actions to deliver a better Europe.
Junckers key proposals:
A common EU defence policy Probably the flagship announcement of the speech, ideas backed by Mr Juncker include a permanent EU military headquarters, and more joint procurement.
Ramping up the European Fund for Strategic Investments
Often referred to as the Juncker Plan, EFSI is a funding programme aimed at boosting lending to businesses, as well as to research and infrastructure projects.Building a digital single market Mr Juncker announced plans for how to roll out 5G telecoms networks, an overhaul of copyright rules and a pledge that “the main centres of public life” in Europe’s towns and cities should have free wireless internet by 2020.
European Solidarity Corps A youth volunteer service that will be up and running by the end of the year. Mr Juncker has set a target of 100,000 participants by 2020.
Creating a European Travel Information System An EU version of the US government’s ESTA programme that requires people to seek online authorisation before travelling to the country
Setting up a European External Investment Plan A new funding programme, inspired by EFSI, focused on investment in Africa and countries on the EU’s borders.
On Cyprus: “Remember that Europe is a driving force that can help bring about the unification of Cyprus – something I am supporting the two leaders of Cyprus in”.
On the free movement of workers (and a dig at Britain) : “We Europeans can never accept Polish workers being harassed, beaten up or even murdered on the streets of Harlow. The free movement of workers is as much a common European value as ourfight against discrimination and racism”
And something for Turkey: “We Europeans stand firmly against the death penalty. Because we believe in and respect the value of human life”.
Independent justice: “We Europeans also believe in independent, effective justice systems. Independent courts keep governments, companies and people in check. Effective justice systems support economic growth and defend fundamental rights. That is why Europe promotes and defends the rule of law”. A good reminder about the independence of the legal system – only a couple of weeks ago commissioner Marianne Thyssen, told reporters that former Elstat chief had no case to answer after the Greek Supreme Court this month reopened an investigation into whether the former IMF economist had manipulated public debt data and put considerable pressure on the greek government to stop the judicial process to ‘avoid damaging the already fragile credibility of the Greek state’.
On CETA ( a major trade deal deal negotiated quietly between the EU and Canada over five years from 2009 to 2014. Like TTIP, CETA is one of the ‘new generation’ of controversial trade treaties that draw public opposition because they are seen as destroying democracy and undermining basic rights): “The EU-Canada trade agreement is the best and most progressive deal the EU has ever negotiated. And I will work with you and with all Member States to see this agreement ratified as soon as possible”.
On workers rights: “Workers should get the same pay for the same work in the same place. This is a question of social justice. And this is why the Commission stands behind our proposal on the Posting of Workers Directive. The internal market is not a place where Eastern European workers can be exploited or subjected to lower social standards. Europe is not the Wild West, but a social market economy”.
“Being European also means a culture that protects our workers and our industries in an increasingly globalised world. Like the thousands who risk losing their jobs in Gosselies in Belgium – it is thanks to EU legislation that the company will now need to engage in a true social dialogue. And workers and local authorities can count on European solidarity and the help of EU funds.”
Nice talk if you are not in Greece.
On the Euro: “Being European, for most of us, also means the euro. During the global financial crisis, the euro stayed strong and protected us from even worse instability. The euro is a leading world currency, and it brings huge, often invisible economic benefits. Euro area countries saved €50 billion this year in interest payments, thanks to the European Central Bank’s monetary policy. €50 billion extra that our finance ministers can and should invest into the economy”.
On EU Investments: “With your support, we will make sure that our European Investment Fund will provide a total of at least €500 billion – half a trillion – of investments by 2020. And we will work beyond that to reach €630 billion by 2022. Of course, with Member States contributing, we can get there even faster”. And all European member states not just those with huge surpluses will have to find the extra cash.
On fairness and taxation: “Every company, no matter how big or small, has to pay its taxes where it makes its profits. This goes for giants like Apple too, even if their market value is higher than the GDP of 165 countries in the world. In Europe we do not accept powerful companies getting illegal backroom deals on their taxes” (a remark which caused some mild giggling from some disrespectful members of the EP who did not appreciate that Mr Juncker had nothing to do with the 2003 Amazon tax deal or several other deals with multinationals that the Luxemburg tax office had agreed during Mr Juncker’s premiership.
On Frontex: “I want to see at least 200 extra border guards and 50 extra vehicles deployed at the Bulgarian external borders as of October. … We will defend our borders, as well, with strict controls, adopted by the end of the year, on everyone crossing them. Every time someone enters or exits the EU, there will be a record of when, where and why”.
On fiscal flexibility: Being political is also what allows us to implement the Stability and Growth Pact (the part of the treaty that sets out members commitments to balanced budgets and surpluses to eliminate deficits) with common sense. The Pact’s creation was influenced by theory. Its application has become a doctrine for many. And today, the Pact is a dogma for some. In theory, a single decimal point over 60 percent in a country’s debt should be punished. But in reality, you have to look at the reasons for debt. We should try to support and not punish ongoing reform efforts. For this we need responsible politicians. And we will continue to apply the Pact not in a dogmatic manner, but with common sense and with the flexibility that we wisely built into the rules”.
Flexibility for all except Greece? Or no more ‘rules are rules’?
And he concluded:
“What are we teaching our children now? What will they inherit from us? A Union that unravels in disunity? A Union that has forgotten its past and has no vision for the future?
Our children deserve better”.
Indeed they do. All the children.
Source: FT, Europa.eu
Response to Mr Eungers speech varied. Gianni Pittella, the leader of the parliament’s Socialists and Democrats group welcomed the proposals saying that it was “a credible programme for the next 12 months which are going to be crucial to our citizens” adding that Brussels was seeking to act while national leaders “sleepwalk through the night”.
On the other hand Philippe Lamberts, co-leader of the Greens group said Mr Juncker was failing to draw people to the European project. “There was no passion, no thrust, no vision,” he told the Financial Times after the speech had ended, adding that the commission was “recognising that it can no longer determine a direction for the EU. It can’t force the member states.”
FT — Jean-Claude Juncker struck a reserved tone in his State of the Union speech. Yet a richer sense of his personality emerges in a profile by France’s Libération newspaper.
Earlier this week Jean-Claude Juncker decided to dismiss speculation over his drinking once and for all this week as he sat over lunch with veteran Brussels reporter Jean Quatremer
Mr Juncker railed against nagging rumours of excessive drinking, blaming a “campaign of destabilisation”.
Mr Juncker attributes some confusion to an old leg injury that sometimes forces him to take someone’s arm when walking. Eyebrows were raised once again when a jovial Mr Juncker was filmed greeting leaders at the May 2015 EU summit with jocular slaps on the face.
People misunderstand his unrestrained demeanour he says: “If you’re not from the standard mould, you must be mad or alcoholic.”
Mr Quatremer reserves judgment in the piece but notes that Mr Juncker made the comments while enjoying “four glasses of champagne, accompanied by a simple salad.”
The French reporter also recalls a previous lunch with Mr Juncker, then Luxembourg’s prime minister, when the politician had savoured three post-lunch glasses of cognac.
“Do you think I would still be in post if I was at the cognac from breakfast?” Mr Juncker commented.
