Jean-Claude Juncker to STAND FIRM against US in State of the Union address in Strasbourg

Mr Juncker, the President of the European Commission, will deliver his annual speech in Strasbourg today, and will focus on “sovereignty” and the EU’s collective capacity to shape world policy in the face of US isolationism and ongoing Brexit negotiations.

An EU official commented on Mr Juncker’s speech, stating: “Juncker wants the EU to punch above, not below, its weight.”

Mr Juncker, who is beginning his final year in office, is expected to stress that the bloc is more united than ever, in the face of growing populism and euroscepticism in countries such as Hungary and Italy.

He will underline his ability to dissuade President Trump from engaging in an immediate tariff war in July, and will question Washington’s position as the global economic leader.

Following Mr Juncker’s meeting with President Trump in July, the US leader tweeted: “Great meeting on trade today with Mr Juncker and representatives of the European Union.

“We have come to a very strong understanding and are all believers in no tariffs, no barriers and no subsidies.

“European Union nations will be open to the United States and at the same time benefiting by everything we are doing for them.”

However, in response to growing uncertainty surrounding the EU-US relationship, Mr Juncker is expected to call for the euro to become a global currency in place to the US dollar, according to the EU official.

In particular, he will raise questions surrounding why most EU energy imports are priced in US dollars when only a small percentage come from the US.

The EU official stated that Mr Juncker believes more euro pricing is possible in the future with a degree of “political will”.

Mr Juncker will also call for landmark trade deals, including that with Japan, to be concluded in the near future in order further boost the bloc’s trade and commercial competitiveness.

Brexit will nevertheless play a key role in his speech, and Mr Juncker is expected to maintain a hardline stance in regards to the ongoing negotiations.

The EU official warned that it was a “wrong signal” to believe EU negotiators were softening their position in relation to the Brexit red lines.

They also warned Mr Juncker will not permit the postponement of the March 29 Brexit deadline in order to avoid a disruptive “hard Brexit”.

Mr Juncker is expected to state that the EU and member states are determined to resist key elements of Theresa May’s Chequers proposals which appear to maintain certain benefits of the EU single market while avoiding the costs.