Juncker State of Union LIVE: EU President to snub UK and demand 'United States of Europe'

The EU chief, who began speaking at 8am this morning, set out his 12-month masterplan to steer the troubled bloc through the escalating refugee crisis and reform the eurozone. 

The European Commission president is expected to barely mention Brexit in his address at the European Parliament in Strasbourg as he instead focuses on the EU’s future without Britain. 

Keen to push ahead with his masterplan, billed as the biggest reboot in the EU’s history, Mr Juncker will aim to ratchet up the federalisation of the 60-year-old bloc’s core economies.

The Brussels boss has also called for EU integration in the face of rising populism after Britain voted to sever ties with the bloc ahead of crunch elections in Italy, Sweden, Hungary and the Czech Republic, where eurosceptic parties are gaining momentum. 

It appears Jean-Claude Juncker is keen to make his mark in the EU as his five-year term as European Commission president expires in 2019 with a grand masterplan to rebuild the bloc, left in tatters after Britain’s momentous decision to leave.

Mr Juncker this morning announced the European Commission would begin negotiations with Australia and New Zealand for new trade deals.

The Commonwealth nations are already tipped to become the first targets of trade deals with Britain after Brexit.  

Follow Express.co.uk here for live updates on Juncker’s big addresss… 

8:54am: Mr Juncker has hinted at the bloc’s controversial plans for an EU Army 

He said: “In the field of defence more effort is required. The setting up of a European defence fund is on our agenda. By 2025 we will need a functioning European Defence Union. We need it and NATO would like us to have it.” 

8:52am: The EU chief appears to be meeting France and Germany halfway with plans for a independent EU finance minister. 

But he said the symbolic role should be taken by a current vice-president in order to strengthen the troubled bloc’s economy.

He said: “We need a European Monetary fund which needs to be anchored in the European Union. We need a European minister of economy and finance, a minister to promote structural reform in our member states. Euro-wide taxes in the EU don’t need treaty change as long as it is decided in the European Council. 

“We do not need parallel structures we need a strong eurozone budget line within the EU budget. 

“Nor do I see no value in a separate euro parliament.”

8:50am: Mr Juncker says a strong single market is the route to a stronger EU 

He praised the eurozone and called for a tighter monetary bond across the bloc. 

He said: “Europe needs to be able to take decisions more rapidly and more efficiently. We need to see a more agile economic and monetary union. The euro area is more resistant to shocks than it was a few years ago. 

“We need a European minster of economy and finance … to promote structural reform in our member states.”

8:48am: Mr Juncker has just ruled out Turkish EU membership in “forseeable future” 

In a strongly-worded rant, he said: “Turkey has been moving away from the European Union in leaps in bounds. Journalists belong in editorial offices … not in prison. 

“I appeal today to the powers that being Turkey: let our journalists go. And not just our journalists. 

“Stop calling our heads of states fascists and Nazis. 

“Turkey want to pull up the drawbridge and blame Europe … From our side there will always be an outstretched hand.”

8:45am: Juncker has called for an extension to the free-movement Schengen Area

He said: “It is high time to bring Romania and Bulgaria into the Schengen area. And incidentally, Croatia too deserves full membership. if we want the Euro to unite our continent rather than dividing it.

“All but two member states are duty bound to join the Euro area. These member states need the support of a euro accession instrument.” 

8:42am: Mr Juncker is back on the posted workers issue

He said: “We need to make sure all EU rules on worker mobility are implemented fairly, simply and effectively and for that we need a new European supervisory and implementation authority.”

8:36am Mr Juncker has urged Europe, especially the more rogue eastern states, to unite in what could be a direct warning to the eastern bloc, including Poland and Hungary

He said: “Europe stretches from Spain to Bulgaria. Europe needs to breathe with both its lungs: the eastern lung and the western lung. Otherwise our continent will suffocate.”

8:32am: Mr Juncker has issued a rallying cry for the European Court of Justice, by way of a fish finger plea. 

He said: “A Slovak deserves as much fish in fish fingers as anyone else. Czechs should have as much cocoa in their chocolate as anyone else. We have to make sure this EU law is enforced. 

“In Europe, law has muscle. It’s not muscle that lays down the law. In Europe the law is safe-guarded by an independent judiciary. Being part of  union which is built on the rule of law means respecting court judgements.

“In the European Union our rule of law is not an opting – it’s a duty.”

8:31am: Juncker is now on a massive rant about his love for Europe and the European project… 

“The time has come to take the next step from reflection to action. You’re about to hear my own, very personal scenario number six. 

“I have lived the European project through my entire life. I have lived for it, I have worked for it, I have been through good times and bad times. 

“I was there at Maastricht, at Amsterdam, at Nice and Lisbon, where our union developed and expanded. I have suffered with Europe and agonised over Europe. I have been through thick and thin with the European Union and never have I lost my love for the European Union. 

“There is no love without disappointed. Love for Europe, I mean what I say, because the EU has achieved so much in this divided world. Prosperity, not for all but still for many. 

“We should celebrate our cultural diversity. Europe is a Europe of values and a safe place. Europe is more than the single market, the money and the euro, it’s all about values.”

He added: “Freedom from oppression and dictatorship. This is a phenomena our central and eastern parts have known all too well. And I mean the freedom to speak our minds whether as citizens or journalists. This is not to be taken for granted. 

“Freedom is not something handed down to us, we have to fight for it, in Europe and the rest of the world.” 

8:29am: The United States is next in the firing line as Juncker says the EU’s growth has been better than US for last two years

He said: “We have been slowly gathering momentum – it helped that the economic outlook swung in our favour – growth in the European Union has outstripped that of the United States over the last two years.”

8:24am: Mr Juncker has made at eastern Europe, including the Czech Republic and Hungary as he condemns the “scandalous” migration crisis

He said: “Europe has got a collective responsibility. 

“Even if it saddens me that not all of our member states show the same solidarity, Europe as a whole has managed to show solidarity.

“Today we have to double our efforts and focus on opening up paths of legal migration.”

He says “solidarity cannot be an exclusively intra-Europe issue”, saying:”Those who have no right to stay in Europe must go back to their place of origin. 

“Solidarity cannot be an exclusively intra-Europe issue. It’s also about putting into place the closer solidarity with Africa … the cradle of humanity”. 

8:21am Mr Juncker has moved onto migration

He said: “Migration remains on our radar. Even if the questions around migration have created debate, we have managed to make real progress on various fronts.”

He promised new border guards and coast guards. 

He said states on the edge of Europe “must not be left alone” to fight the crisis. 

Turning to Italy, who is taking the brunt of the crisis, he said:”I can’t talk about migration without making a heartfelt homage to Italy for its perseverance and its generosity. 

“In the Med, Italy is saving the honour of Europe”. 

8:18am: The EU chief says he wants Europe to be a “vanguard” in the fight against climate change 

He says: “Europe has to defend its strategic interests 

“We are going to produce a new industrial strategy for Europe. I want to be Europe to be a vanguard in the fight against climate change.

8:15am: Mr Juncker is bigging up the EU’s economic strength, highlighting trade deals in what could be seen as a jab at Brexit Britain 

He highlights recent trade deals with Canada and announced plans to open negotiations with Australia and New Zealand, boasting nations are “knocking at our door” to sign deals. 

He said: “Trade is not an abstract concept. Trade is jobs … new opportunities. Trade is also exporting our social and environmental normals. 

“Europe has always been an attractive economic space but since last year I see our partners al over the world are knocking at our door to sign trade agreements with us.”

Junker added: “Today, we are proposing to open trade negotiations with Australia and New Zealand — I want them to be finalized before the end of this mandate.

8:13am: The EU boss has a very positive message for his 27 members 

He says: “Our 27 leaders are putting Europe back in our Union and are putting our Union back in Europe”. 

Quoting Mark Twain, he says: “Years from now we will be more disappointed by the things we did not do than the things we did.”

8:11am: Juncker tells EU members “let us catch the wind in our sails”

“European Banks have the firepower to lend to companies so they can grow We ask for fiscal discipline but are careful not to kill growth – despite previous criticism.  

“Ten years since crisis struck Europeans economy is finally bouncing back. And with it our confidence.

“The wind is back in Europe’s sights. Let us catch the wind in our sails.”

He also acknowledged the posted workers proposal was one of the “controversial issues” splitting Europe and called for leaders to “build their part of the bridge so everyone can meet”. 

8:10am: Mr Juncker is highlighting the recovering economy in the EU over the past five years. 

He said: “More people are at work in the European Union than ever before.”

He says Brussels cannot take the sole credit for this before adding snidely: “But I’m sure if nine million jobs had been lost we would take the blame.”

Juncker said the economy of the EU is “finally bouncing back”. 

He added: “We continue to make process with each passing day. 

“We have been slowly gathering momentum – it helped that the economic outlook swung in our favour – growth in the European Union has outstripped that of the United States over the last two years. 

“Unemployment is at a nine year low – 8 million jobs have been created. More people are in employment win the European Union than ever before… “

8:07am: Juncker is up and has conceded Europe was “not in a good state” in his opening lines 

He says: When I stood before you this time last year I had some easier speech to give. It is plain to all to see our union was not in  good state. Europe was battered and bruised to our very foundation. 

“We only had two choices: come together around a positive EU agenda or each retreat into our own corners. 

“I want to thank the leaders of the 27 member states. They chose unity. They chose to rally around our common ground. Together we showed Europe can deliver.”

8:03am: The EU Parliament President Antonio Tajani has called for members to “work together” 

He said: “We have to change things – we have to work together in all forms necessary. We have to work to fight terrorism and illegal immigration but also work to create new places to work. 

“We have to work with the Commission to resolve all the problems that face us. 

“I ask you to respect each other and President Juncker.”

8.01am: Antonio Tajani, the president of the European Parliament, has arrived 

Jean-Claude Juncker, the man of the moment, is one of the first to take his seat. The building is still slowly filling up as leaders and diplomats arrive at the venue in Strasbourg. 

7:55am Michel Barnier is in the building

The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator seems in good humour as he greets fellow attendees. 

Fellow negotiator Guy Verhofstadt is also present and is already in his seat ahead of the address.