During the EP plenary session (11-14 September 2017) in Strasbourg,&nbsp;Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, expresses himself on the State of the Union 2017&nbsp;(2nd part): on freedom, equality and the rule of law, the protection of Europe's external borders, the enlagement of the European Union and Turkey,&nbsp;European Stabilisation Mechanism (ESM), the need a European Minister of Economy and Finance, fight against terrorism and defence.

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

JUNCKER, Jean-Claude (LU)

state of the Union 2017 (T)

state of the Union

State of the Union 2017: extracts from the address by Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC (2nd part)

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/17949628/I143357Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

SOUNDBITE (German), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, In my scenario six, there are three principles that must always anchor our Union: freedom, equality and the rule of law. Europe is first of all a Union of freedom. Freedom from the kind of oppression and dictatorship our continent knows all too well &ndash; sadly none more than central and Eastern Europe.

SOUNDBITE (German), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, in Europe the strength of the law replaced the law of the strong. The rule of law means that law and justice are upheld by an independent judiciary. Accepting and respecting a final judgement is what it means to be part of a Union based on the rule of law. Member States gave final jurisdiction to the European Court of Justice. The judgements of the Court have to be respected by all.

SOUNDBITE (German), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, A more united Union also needs to become more inclusive. If we want to strengthen the protection of our external borders, then we need to open the Schengen area of free movement to Bulgaria and Romania immediately. We should also allow Croatia to become a full Schengen member once it meets all the criteria.

SOUNDBITE (German), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, the European Union will be greater than 27 in number. Accession candidates must give the rule of law, justice and fundamental rights utmost priority.This rules out EU membership for Turkey for the foreseeable future.

SOUNDBITE (German), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, The euro area is more resilient now than in years past. We now have the European Stabilisation Mechanism (ESM). I believe the ESM should now progressively graduate into a European Monetary Fund.

SOUNDBITE (German), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, We need a European Minister of Economy and Finance: a European Minister that promotes and supports structural reforms in our Member States. He or she can build on the work the Commission has been doing since 2015 with our Structural Reform Support Service. The new Minister should coordinate all EU financial instruments that can be deployed when a Member State is in a recession or hit by a fundamental crisis.

SOUNDBITE (German), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC,  The European Union must also be stronger in fighting terrorism. In the past three years, we have made real progress. But we still lack the means to act quickly in case of cross-border terrorist threats. This is why I call for a European intelligence unit that ensures data concerning terrorists and foreign fighters are automatically shared among intelligence services and with the police.

SOUNDBITE (German), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, A new European Defence Fund is in the offing. As is a Permanent Structured Cooperation in the area of defence. By 2025 we need a fully-fledged European Defence Union. We need it. And NATO wants it.