EU: The EU Commission presents its short and medium term priorities

On 13 September 2017, the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, delivered his annual and penultimate speech on the State of the European Union at the European Parliament. In it he spoke about various initiatives to bolster the EU’s trade, industry, and digital policies as well as the battle against climate change and coping with the migrant crisis over the coming months. A stalwart federalist, President Jean-Claude Juncker underlined the need for a more united, stronger and more democratic union especially in light of the June 2017 European elections and ahead of the UK’s EU exit. He also unveiled his priority social projects up to 2018 including the establishment of a European Labour Authority that can ensure fairness in the labor market in terms of free movement of workers.
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Striking quite an optimistic tone. By way of introduction, the EU Commission President hailed Europe’s economic progress with a growth rate in excess of that in the US, an unemployment rate touching its lowest level, and a shrinking public deficit. He also underlined that he had made good on 80% of the proposals he had previously promised. “A number of these have been controversial such as the posting of workers. However concessions have to be made and the EU Commission is open to compromise if

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