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BRUSSELS, Sept 14 (Reuters) - The head of the European Union's executive, Jean-Claude Juncker, said Brexit would not break the European Union up as he sought to rally support for the tarnished bloc with his major annual policy speech on Wednesday. please find excerpts of his State of the European Union speech.
EUROPEAN INTEGRATION
"A year ago I stated that the state of the European Union leaves much to be desired... It still applies."
"The scope in which we cooperate together is far too small."
"Far too often national interests are brought to the fore. We shouldn't misunderstand this - European integration must not bow to the interests of the nation state. Europe cannot become a colourless melting pot."
"We want to construct. We want a better Europe. Europe is not going down the path of nationalisation, it can never become that type of national area, but there splits out there and often fragmentation exists where we need further effort from the union, and that is leaving room for galloping populism."
"We can't accept that because populism doesn't solve problems. Populism creates problems, and we have to be aware of that and protect ourselves against it."
"We're not the United States of Europe."
"The citizens of Europe cannot be fooled any longer. We have to look them straight in the eyes. People in Europe don't want this petty envy between the various institutions. People expect of Europe that they see clear results, results which should be implemented over time."
"A committed Europe requires courage but we need to speak in committed terms about Europe in our national parliaments as well."
"I've lived through the (European) project, I've done this from personal conviction and I have not hesitated."
"What are we instilling in terms of values in our children. Is this a union that has forgotten its past, has no vision for the future? Our children deserve better."
"History will not remember our names, history will remember the force of our resolve and convictions. History will not remember us, it will remember our mistakes."
"Europe can only be built if it's understood, it has to be better explained. It can only be built with the member states, not against the member states."
ECONOMY & SOCIAL JUSTICE
"Unemployment continues to be far too high in Europe... Social injustice continues."
"Europe is not social enough, we have to make that clear."
"We need to show intelligent flexibility in applying all this so we don't break or hinder growth."
"Debt in Europe continues also to be at too high a level."
"Every company, no matter how big or small, has to pay it's taxes where it makes it profits. This Commission is delivering on the fight against tax breaks."
"Europe also means standing up for our steel industry ... this is why I was in China twice this year to address the issues of overcapacity."
"Europe is not the wild west."
"Effective justice systems support economic growth. That is why Europe supports and defends the rule of law everywhere in Europe."
"Being European also means a fair playing field. This means that workers should get the same pay for the same work in the same place. And this is why the commission stands behind our proposal on posted workers directive."
"A fair playing field means consumers are protected."
"I cannot and will not accept that Europe remains the country of youth unemployment."
"The commission is proposing to set up today to set up a European solidarity corps."
"It is now urgent we accelerate our work on the capital market union. The Commission is putting a concrete roadmap for this on your table today."
"The capital markets will make our financial system by far more resilient."
BREXIT
"We respect and at the same time regret the UK decision but the European Union as such is not at risk."
"We would be happy if the request for Brexit could happen as quickly as possible so that we can take the specific steps that needs to be taken and so that relations with the UK, which must remain on a friendly basis, can take a new shape."
"That means that only those can have unlimited access to the internal market who accept that there will be free access for persons and goods. There can be no a la carte access to the dingle market."
TRADE
"I am very much behind the trade agreement with Canada. It's the most progressive, best trade agreement we have ever entered into."
"Trade means more jobs... We cannot backtrack on this with Canada."
PARIS CLIMATE DEAL
"We were the pioneers, we drove this forward. Sometimes we urged others to act... We are calling on EU member states to ratify the Paris agreement. Dragging our feet on ratification undermines credibility, it makes us look ridiculous."
CYPRUS
"Europe is a driving force that can help bring about the unification of Cyprus... It has to be done and it has to be done now."
"Europe means peace."
"We sat our countries around the table, not the trenches."
INTERNET & COPYRIGHT
"We want to create a new legal framework that enables connectivity in Europe... If Europeans invest in that, that is at least 1.3 million jobs in Europe."
"This (full 5G) has the ability to create a further 2 million jobs in Europe."
"We propose today to equip every European city with wireless internet."
INVESTMENT
"Today we are launching an ambitious investment plan for Africa and the neighbourhood, which has the potential to raise 44 billion euros in investment. It can go up to 88 billion if member states contribute."
"... the root causes of migration - the new plan will offer lifelines for those who would otherwise be pushed to make dangerous journeys. It has to be done."
"We also need to create the right environment to invest in. European banks are in a much better state than two years ago. Europe needs its banks."
"We propose to double the duration of the fund and to double its financial capacity. Our European investment fund will provide a total of at least 500 billion euros of investment by 2020, and will work to reach 630 billion by 2022. If with member states contribute we can get there even faster."
MIGRATION & BORDERS
"When it comes to managing the refugee crisis we have started to see solidarity.
"Solidarity must come from the heart. It cannot be forced."
"We still have a lot of work to do and we must know which individuals are crossing our borders."
"I would like to see the deployment as of October of 200 border guards and 50 additional vehicles at the border with Bulgaria."
"Anyone coming into the European union or leaving the European union will be registered.... By November we will be proposing a new information system, a travel information system, which will be automated."
"The security of our borders also means that we have to give a priority to the exchange of information and intelligence."
SECURITY & DEFENCE
"Tolerance cannot fly in the face of our security.... We can no longer depend on the singular power of individual member states."
"We have set up special systems for the return of fighters and we are combating the fighting of terrorists."
"Europe should be stronger, should take a stronger point of view in terms of our defence. We can no longer depend on the singular power of individual member states."
"We don't have the permanent structure and without that we're not able to work efficiently. We must have a European headquarters and so we should work towards a common military force and this should be in complement with NATO. More European defence in NATO doesn't mean less trans-Atlantic solidarity."
"From an economic point of view, bringing together our military resources could be clearly justified. We could use cooperation because the lack of cooperation is something that is costing Europe 20 to 100 billion euros a year."
"Proposing by the end of the year a European Defence Fund to actively stimulate research and development in this area."
ROAMING
"The Commission has done away with roaming charges for cell phones. There were very good intentions behind doing away with the roaming charges and as of next week you will see a new draft which is improved."
"You will be able to feel at home anywhere in Europe thanks to these roaming rules."
SYRIA
"The consequences for Europe of this conflict are immediate but where the Union, where are the member states, in the negotiations to try to solve this conflict? ... I'm asking for us to draw up a European strategy for Syria."
"Federica (Mogherini) should have a seat at the negotiating table on the future of Syria."