EU break-up ‘won’t solve problems over migration’

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has launched a broadside at “extremists” who think they can solve their countries’ problems over migration by breaking up the EU.

In comments to the European Parliament which are likely to be seen as a comment on Theresa May’s plans for Brexit, Mr Juncker warned that no European country would be able to deal with the challenges of the economy, unemployment, migration and terrorism on its own.

Mr Juncker welcomed Mrs May’s Lancaster House speech on Tuesday, but stressed that Brexit talks could not begin until the European Council had been formally notified of the UK’s intention to quit under Article 50 of the EU treaties, telling MEPs “a speech alone cannot activate negotiations”.

“I will do everything to make sure the negotiations will be according to the rules and will yield good results,” he told MEPs.

But he added: “Most of our citizens and you and the Commission would have liked Europe to react more rapidly and with greater solidarity to the events of 2016.

“Quite often we end up going down the route of the extremists when we defend their own interests, because they make Europe responsible for all ills.

“I would like to say straight away that they are wrong and they fool these people who think that if you close in on yourself and close your doors to migrants that is the way to solve these problems.

“We need to show these people who think that this is the time to deconstruct Europe, to let it fall apart, we have to show them that they are wrong.

“On their own no country will be able to organise the economy, fight unemployment, welcome in migrants and fight terrorism.”