Britain's decision to leave the European Union is a "wake-up call" for Europe but will not threaten the existence of the European Union, European Commission president Jean Claude Juncker has said, as he warned against granting Britain any "a la carte" access to the EU single market.
In a keynote speech delivered at the European Parliament in Strasbourg this morning, Mr Juncker said that while the EU "respects and regrets" the decision of the British people to leave the EU, Britain could not expect single market access without accepting the principle of free movement of people.
British prime minister Theresa May has said she expects Britain to retain access to the single market and curb free movement, setting the stage for a battle with Brussels when negotiations commence on Britain's exit from the Union next year.
In his annual “State of the Union” address – his first major policy speech since the British decision to leave the European Union – Mr Juncker pledged to set out a work plan for the European Commission that will “overcome divisions and show Europe that we can act jointly”.
Citing the recent murder of a Polish man in southeast England, Mr Juncker said that Europe needed to uphold its core values.
“European can never accept Polish workers being harassed, beaten up or even murdered in the streets of Essex,” he said to applause. “The free movement of workers is as much a common European value as our fight against discrimination and racism.”
He said that the EU needs to work together to overcome differences between member states and remember the values on which the project was founded. “Is this a union that has forgotten its past? Our children deserve better.”
Among the specific measures proposed by the commission president in his hour-long speech was a new investment fund for Africa, a US-style data registration system that would screen incoming visitors to the EU and an increase of funding for the Juncker investment plan to kick-start growth and tackle youth unemployment.
Apple debate
Ahead of a debate this afternoon in Strasbourg on the European Commission’s ruling against Ireland over its tax dealings with Apple, Mr Juncker vowed to continue the European Commission’s clampdown on tax evasion.
“A fair playing field means that in Europe consumers are protected from cartels and abuses by powerful companies, and that every company no matter how big or small have to pay its taxes where it makes its profits,” he said.
While his planned speech, which was later issued by the European Commission, mentioned the Apple case, Mr Juncker excluded any mention of the Apple case directly in the chamber.
Instead he added: “I promised that my Commission would fight against tax evasion and many of you didn’t believe me but that is what we are doing. This commission is delivering in the fight against taxation.”
There was also a heavy emphasis on increasing the EU's role in defence and security in the speech. "Europe can no longer afford to piggy-back on the military might of others or let France alone defend its honour in Mali," he said, adding that Europe needs to "toughen up" when it comes to defence policy.
“The Lisbon Treaty enables those member states who wish, to pool their defence capabilities in the form of a permanent structured co-operation. I think the time to make use of this possibility is now.”
Mr Juncker's speech comes two days before EU leaders – minus Britain – gather in Bratislava to assess the next steps forward for the European Union following Britain's decision to leave the European Union in June.
In his letter to EU leaders ahead of Friday’s meeting, European Council president Donald Tusk said it would be a “fatal error to assume that the negative result in the UK referendum represents a specifically British issue”.
“Business as usual is not an option,” he said. “We can either come out of this crisis weaker and conflicted, or stronger and more united.”
Among the main priorities to be discussed by Tusk at Friday’s meeting are proposals for furthering EU co-operation in security and defence issues amid concerns that terrorism and migration are dominating most European’s concerns.
“Someone must give back to Europeans their sense of security,” Mr Tusk said in his letter.
Irish officials have said that Ireland’s protocol to the Lisbon Treaty ensures that Ireland will not be obliged to participate in any further defence co-operation against its will.
