War would break out if the European Union did not exist, Jean-Claude Juncker’s deputy suggested on Friday night. Frans Timmermans, the first vice president of the European Commission told an audience in Prague that history had shown that “all other forms” of politics in Europe “lead to war”.| My good man, I think you're already at war... |
He warned that the EU is “not indestructible”. “Any political construction can be undone.”
Nigel Farage, the Ukip leader, said the claim was “desperate” and accused the EU’s leadership of generating division.
Toxic clashes over Greece’s bailout and the migration crisis, and the prospect of British exit leave relations between member states at their lowest ebb in years. Some states blame Mr Juncker for driving through deeply unpopular migrant resettlement quota scheme, against the wishes of central and eastern Europe, for poisoning relations.
Mr Juncker admitted that it will take nearly a century for the relocation scheme he championed to be completed after a sluggish start. Out of a target of 160,000, fewer than 150 migrants have been moved from Italy and Greece to other EU states. Officials have found migrants refusing to take part because they are intent on going to Germany, or because they fear the removals planes will send them back to Africa.
“I am not at all satisfied with the pace of relocations at the moment. At this rate it will take until 2101 to relocated 160,000 people,” he said.