The European Union needs a military headquarters to work towards a common military force, the Commission president has told MEPs in Strasbourg, the BBC reports.

Jean-Claude Juncker said the lack of a “permanent structure” resulted in money being wasted on missions.

Part of his annual state of the union address was devoted to the UK’s unexpected vote to leave the EU.

He insisted that the bloc was not at risk and urged Brexit negotiations to take place as quickly as possible.

Mr Juncker warned that the UK could not expect selective “a la carte” access to the internal market without accepting free movement of people.