Juncker to present post-Brexit EU white paper on Wednesday

European Union chief executive Jean-Claude Juncker will present a white paper to the European Parliament on Wednesday on options for shoring up unity once Britain launches its withdrawal process, a spokesman said.

The European Commission president wants some states to be able to deepen cooperation further and faster without the whole bloc having to follow suit, but this idea has raised concerns, especially among poorer eastern countries, that their richer neighbours may use Brexit to cut EU subsidies to them.

Juncker will go to the European Parliament on Wednesday afternoon, Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas said on Tuesday, to present the white paper after chairing a special meeting of his commissioners on Tuesday.

By setting out four or five practical "pathways to unity" or "alternative avenues for cooperation at 27", EU officials say Juncker aims to give the 27 leaders of the post-Brexit Union some broad choices to start considering at a summit in Rome on March 25, where they will mark 60 years of the bloc's founding.

"After Rome we want to launch a public debate on these options ... this has to be about the people and we very much hope that the leaders will launch such a process," Schinas told a daily news briefing.

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)