European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker on Wednesday laid out plans in his State of the Union speech to tackle the refugee crisis, fears about Russia, and a possible "Brexit."
Following are the main points of his first annual speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg in which he acknowledged that the 28-nation bloc is "not in a good place."
- Refugees -
Juncker urged EU member states to take 160,000 refugees from border states Greece, Hungary and Italy as they face the worst migration crisis since World War II.
"This has to be done in a compulsory way," he said, adding it was time for the bloc to take "bold, determined action."
He proposed an EU list of "safe countries of origin" to which migrants can be returned because they do not risk persecution or war there, and therefore cannot qualify as refugees. These are the six Balkan countries and Turkey.
He supported offering wage-paying jobs to asylum seekers as their claims are processed.
The commission will present early next year a plan for legal migration.
- Africa -
The EU is setting up a 1.8-billion-euro ($2-billion) trust fund to help curb the influx of desperate migrants from Africa seeking a better life in Europe. The fund is to tackles crises in the Sahel and Lake Chad regions, the Horn of Africa and north Africa.
- Greece -
Juncker said that whoever wins the Greek elections on September 20 must respect the terms of a third bailout deal worth 86 billion euros ($96 billion) and implement the tough reforms agreed.
- Eurozone -
He called for setting up a treasury for the 19-country Eurozone, which is accountable at European level.
- Banks -
Juncker said he supports a "common system to ensure that citizens' bank savings are always protected up to a limit of 100,000 euros per person and account."
- British EU referendum -
By underlining the need for reform in the bloc, he promised to push for a "fair deal" for Britain to encourage its people to vote to stay in the EU and avoid a "Brexit," or British exit, during a referendum in 2017.
- Warning to Russia -
Juncker warned Moscow that the security of EU member nations like Poland and those in the Baltics was sacrosanct, amid growing alarm in eastern states over alleged Russian support for rebels in eastern Ukraine.
"The security and borders of EU member states are untouchable. I want this to be understood very clearly in Moscow," Juncker said.
- Climate -
He said the EU will push for a "robust, ambitious" deal at the UN climate summit in Paris at year's end, warning that Europe's next refugee crisis may result from people fleeing climate change. "The EU should not just back any deal," he said.
European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker on Wednesday laid out plans in his State of the Union speech to tackle the refugee crisis, fears about Russia, and a possible “Brexit.”
Following are the main points of his first annual speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg in which he acknowledged that the 28-nation bloc is “not in a good place.”
– Refugees –
Juncker urged EU member states to take 160,000 refugees from border states Greece, Hungary and Italy as they face the worst migration crisis since World War II.
“This has to be done in a compulsory way,” he said, adding it was time for the bloc to take “bold, determined action.”
He proposed an EU list of “safe countries of origin” to which migrants can be returned because they do not risk persecution or war there, and therefore cannot qualify as refugees. These are the six Balkan countries and Turkey.
He supported offering wage-paying jobs to asylum seekers as their claims are processed.
The commission will present early next year a plan for legal migration.
– Africa –
The EU is setting up a 1.8-billion-euro ($2-billion) trust fund to help curb the influx of desperate migrants from Africa seeking a better life in Europe. The fund is to tackles crises in the Sahel and Lake Chad regions, the Horn of Africa and north Africa.
– Greece –
Juncker said that whoever wins the Greek elections on September 20 must respect the terms of a third bailout deal worth 86 billion euros ($96 billion) and implement the tough reforms agreed.
– Eurozone –
He called for setting up a treasury for the 19-country Eurozone, which is accountable at European level.
– Banks –
Juncker said he supports a “common system to ensure that citizens’ bank savings are always protected up to a limit of 100,000 euros per person and account.”
– British EU referendum –
By underlining the need for reform in the bloc, he promised to push for a “fair deal” for Britain to encourage its people to vote to stay in the EU and avoid a “Brexit,” or British exit, during a referendum in 2017.
– Warning to Russia –
Juncker warned Moscow that the security of EU member nations like Poland and those in the Baltics was sacrosanct, amid growing alarm in eastern states over alleged Russian support for rebels in eastern Ukraine.
“The security and borders of EU member states are untouchable. I want this to be understood very clearly in Moscow,” Juncker said.
– Climate –
He said the EU will push for a “robust, ambitious” deal at the UN climate summit in Paris at year’s end, warning that Europe’s next refugee crisis may result from people fleeing climate change. “The EU should not just back any deal,” he said.
