How much power does he want? Juncker demands MORE EU growth as current level ‘MEDIOCRE’

JEAN-CLAUDE Juncker has demanded further expansion of the EU despite widespread anger at the bloc’s federalist stance.

The unelected European Commission president made the plea after bizarrely claiming the EU’s current rate of growth is “mediocre”.

Speaking as he collected an honorary degree in Salamanca, Spain, Mr Juncker said: “Europe, which we thought was very big, is actually very small.”When Europe has all the possibilities, let’s take advantage of them, especially to finish everything that we have already started.

“And let’s give much more strength and vigour to this growth that I still qualify as mediocre.”His comments are likely to anger Eurosceptics who believe the bloc’s push for deep integration has already gone too far.

The EU has faced a wave of populist backlash from disgruntled voters across the bloc since last year’s stunning Brexit vote.

But he insisted: “I want to tell the traditional parties that populism will end up defeated. It can not advance.”

Jean-Claude Juncker
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Jean-Claude Juncker claimed the EU’s current rate of expansion is ‘mediocre’

The Commission president went on to attack Catalonia‘s bid to break away from Spain.

He said: “Nationalisms are a poison that prevent Europe from working together.

“We cannot stay with our arms crossed because it is time for us to do what needs to be done.

“Without Spain, our European Union would be incomplete.”

Jean-Claude Juncker
EPA

The European Commission president railed against Catalonia’s bid for independence

“I say ‘no’ to any form of separatism that weakens Europe and further widens the existing fissures.”We don’t have the right to dismantle at a national and regional scale a model of co-existence which we have to construct for the whole of Europe.

“For all of this, we need patience, but also determination.”

Catalonia independence rally
GETTY

The secessionist drive has dragged Spain into its worst political crisis since the 1970s

The secessionist drive has dragged Spain into its worst political crisis since the return of democracy four decades ago.Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who was with Mr Juncker in Salamanca, thanked him for his support “in such difficult times”.

He said: “Juncker has supported the Spanish government’s actions, has expressed his respect for our constitution, our laws and our legal system.”

Additional reporting by Maria Ortega


Source: http://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/878459/Jean-Claude-Juncker-European-Union-Spain-Catalonia-Brussels-federalism-Brexit

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