Juncker proposes EU military headquarters

PanARMENIAN.Net - The European Union needs a military headquarters to work towards a common military force, the Commission president has told MEPs in Strasbourg, according to BBC News.

Jean-Claude Juncker said the lack of a "permanent structure" resulted in money being wasted on missions.

Part of his annual state of the union address was devoted to the UK's unexpected vote to leave the EU.

He insisted that the bloc was not at risk and urged Brexit negotiations to take place as quickly as possible.

Juncker warned that the UK could not expect selective "a la carte" access to the internal market without accepting free movement of people.

The single market has dominated the Brexit debate in the UK. Prime Minister Theresa May distanced herself from remarks by Brexit minister David Davis when he said remaining in the single market would be "very improbable" if it meant giving up control of British borders.

The Brexit vote has given added impetus to plans for greater defence co-operation, because the UK has always objected to the potential conflict of interest with Nato.

But Juncker said a common military force "should be in complement to Nato". "More defence in Europe doesn't mean less transatlantic solidarity."

A European Defence Fund would stimulate military research and development, he said.