THE European Union faces an existential crisis and needs protecting from “galloping nationalism,” Jean-Claude Juncker, the Commission president, has told MEPs.

The bloc’s chief official also made clear in his annual state of the Union address, that the EU needed a military headquarters to work towards a common military force, that should be complementary to Nato.

He also told MEPs that the Brexit negotiations with Britain needed to take place as quickly as possible but made clear the UK could not expect an "a la carte" access to the internal market without accepting free movement of people.

Mr Juncker made only a slight reference to Brexit, which he argued by itself did not mean the disintegration of the EU, and concentrated on the bloc’s future, declaring to applause: "The European project continues. Let's choose to look forward. Be positive."

He acknowledged the EU faced an "existential crisis" but stressed it had to deliver "concrete results,” emphasising stability, security and tackling social injustice.

Divisions in the bloc, he said, had led to "galloping populism," from which Europe had to be protected.