Junckers vision: Equating unity with uniformity

European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker has said that the “wind is back in Europe’s sails” as the EU becomes more united and economic momentum picks up a year after the Brexit vote.

In his annual State of the Union speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Juncker sought to justify his stance on Britain’s decision to leave the EU, stating that the union was now stronger and more economically viable than a year ago.

He is correct in some respects, at least. Growth in the EU has outpaced the US in the past two years and unemployment is now at a nine-year low. But he and other power brokers in Brussels need a reality check.