Boozy EU boss spells out eye-popping power grabs to ‘unite’ post-Brexit Europe – we guess how many Cognacs he had when he dreamed each one up
The bureaucrat also detailed plans of a summit to be held the day after Brexit in Romania in March 2019 to discuss how the EU will 'move on'
ARROGANT Euro chief Jean Claude Juncker told Britain we’ll regret Brexit – before detailing his extraordinary vision of a Brussels-controlled EU super-state.
The famously thirsty Commission President – dogged by persistent rumours over his boozing – left critical MEPs open mouthed as he spelled out plans for an unprecedented power grab to “unite” Europe.
He signalled Brussels should seize greater control over corporation tax and VAT across the bloc, create a European ‘FBI’ and an EU Army by 2025.
The bureaucrat added that he wanted more member states should adopt the Euro and the passport-free ‘Schengen’ zone expanded to include Romania and Bulgaria.
He spoke of his desire for the EU to expand beyond 27 countries post-Brexit by welcoming in western Balkan states such as Serbia.
And while saying the door to Turkey joining the EU was closed “for the foreseeable future” he said there would “always be an outstretched hand” to the Turkish people.
He added it was time to combine the roles of the President of the Commission – essentially the EU’s civil service – and the President of the EU Council – the body of the leaders of each member state.
And he said the Commission deserved some of the credit for the growing economic recovery on the Continent.
Making his State of the Union address in Strasbourg, Mr Juncker said: “Europe was not made to stand still. It must never do.”
He insisted that the EU would “regret” the bombshell Brexit vote – but he signalled it was nothing compared with the pain coming Britain’s way.
He said: “You will regret it as well soon if I might say.”
He detailed plans for a summit on March 30 2019 in Romania – the day after Brexit – to confirm plans to “move on” and map out the future of the bloc.
Name-checking France’s Jacques Delors – the godfather of the European project – he added: “Jacques Delors taught me that Europe only moves forward when it is bold.
“The single market, Schengen and the single currency were all written off as pipe dreams before they happened. And yet these three ambitious projects are now a reality.”
He added: “The wind is back in Europe’s sails. We now have a window of opportunity but it will not stay open forever.
“Now is the time to build a more united, stronger and more democratic Europe for 2025.”
No Brexit deal would mean sky high loans
PHILIP Hammond warned Brussels a 'No Deal' on Brexit would send the cost of home loans through the roof on the Continent.
Speaking to City chiefs last night he said his number one goal in the negotiations was securing the best deal for the UK economy and jobs.
And he warned the EU that a break up of the valuable links between the City of London and Europe's financial services sector would clobber people across the bloc.
He said: "It would result in business being lost to New York and Hong Kong.
"It would push up fixed rate borrowing costs for homeowners across the Continent.
"It would push up costs for airlines hedging against fuel prices."
The Chancellor insisted progress was being made in the divorce talks. But he urges sceptical business leaders to side WITH the Government and make the case for an outcome that protects jobs on both sides of the Channel.
He said: "This has to be a team effort.
"We have to go on emphasising to contacts and supply chain partners in Europe that this is a shared challenge, that needs a shared solution."
The staggering speech delighted arch Europhiles - but Dutch PM Mark Rutte joked he always thought people wanting vision should go to the optometrist.
But it delighted Brexiteers who said the ‘Juncker Blueprint’ proved all the warnings made by the Vote Leave campaign in the run-up to last year’s EU Referendum.
Former Cabinet Minister Iain Duncan Smith told the Sun: “This tells you why the vote last year makes sense. “Jean Claude Juncker’s bar room utterances have given the game away. It’s the future of the EU – the march of the super-state."
He added: “This kills the ‘Remainers’ argument that people like were scaremongering about the future of Europe.
“Here it is, this is what Europe looks like.”
“Juncker’s plan is a step-by-step move towards a European superstate.”
THE SUN SAYS Jean-Claude Juncker's jaw-dropping expansion plans PROVE Britain has made the right choice to quit the EU
Nigel Farage said: “All I can say is ‘Thank God we’re leaving!”
He said: “It’s truly the most worrying speech I’ve heard in all my years.
“More Europe in every single direction, and all of it to be done without the consent of the people.”
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Tory MEP Syed Kamall added: “Anyone that heard this speech now knows what direction he is sailing in – towards a United States of Europe.”
And critical Brits were echoed by an Austrian MEP who STORMED OUT of the Parliament building.
Harald Vilimsky, vice chair of the Europe of Nations and Freedom Party said: “The European Union is not Europe and Europe is not the European Union.
He added: “The European Union is nothing more than an association, an association with rules and you can change these rules.
“What Mr Juncker wants de facto is to force the European Union into a single state – and we know the Euro is not a success story.”
The speech came with negotiations between Britain and the EU over the terms of the Brexit divorce and a future trade deal in deadlock.
Mr Juncker steered clear of the talks, but pointedly revealed the EU was making a trade deal with Australia and New Zealand – two countries keen for a relationship with Brexit Britain – a priority.
Labour Europhile Chuka Umunna yesterday said the EU had “stolen a march” on Trade Secretary Liam Fox.
And he said: “The most important trade relationship we have is with the EU. “The Government’s priority should be staying in the single market and the customs union, and making sure we will not lose out on the trade deals we have secured as a member of the EU.”
Responding to Mr Juncker, Prime Minister Theresa May’s official spokesman said: “What we are absolutely focused on is making the best of the opportunities provided by Brexit.
“We are working towards an ambitious free trade deal and securing a deep and special partnership with the EU.”
Asked if Mrs May backed Mr Juncker’s proposals for closer integration, the spokesman said: “This was a speech about the future of the EU. The EU will of course want to make its plans going forward. “We have said we want a strong and prosperous EU. That will be good for the EU and Britain as well.”
Fan of dark arts
JEAN Claude Juncker, 62, is the EU’s most powerful unelected bureaucrat with a reputation as an incompetent boozer.
He was the PM of tiny Luxembourg from 1995 to 2013 — which has the same population as Sheffield — and one of the architects of the disastrous Euro.
But his premiership was marred by claims of industrial tax avoidance in the tiny European state on his watch and was forced to resign over a spy scandal. After stepping down he confessed that he had “often had to lie” in his old job.
The grumpy elder statesman seized control of the EU Commission in 2014 in the face of opposition from the British Government.
He is a devout EU federalist — who wants to see the European Union become ever closer to being a single bloc with a single EU Army.
He believes that the EU is too open and too democratic about how it makes decisions, saying in 2011: “monetary policy is a serious issue - we should discuss this in secret, in the Eurogroup...
I am for secret, dark debates”. Mr Juncker’s drinking habits are the stuff of Brussels legend, with claims the chain-smoking bon viveur enjoys brandy for breakfast and a deep love of French claret.
On one bender he was reported to have downed “a Campari, three glasses of wine and three Sambucas in only two hours”.
Last year a video went viral of a well refreshed Mr Juncker slapping a fellow leader on the face and calling Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban “the dictator” after a boozy Brussels dinner.
During one Brexit negotiations lunch with David Davis, Mr Juncker turned down wine to avoid being teased by the Brits.
- By Harry Cole, Westminster Correspondent
A spokesman for Jeremy Corbyn was asked whether the Labour leader agreed with Mr Juncker hat the UK would come to regret voting for Brexit.
Mr Corbyn’s spokesman said: “Labour has from the time of the referendum last summer said we respect and accept the referendum result.
“There are better and worse ways of implementing the decision of the British people to leave the EU, and the way the Government is seeking to implement that decision is potentially extremely damaging to living standards for people in this country.
“We need a Brexit that puts jobs and living standards and the economy first.”