(CNN)European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker sought to present a bright future for the European Union after the United Kingdom leaves in 2019, but warned that Britain "will regret" the move as much as the EU will.
In his annual state of the union address, Juncker repeatedly used the word "solidarity" in talking about the bloc and enumerated its economic achievements, saying that "the wind is back in Europe's sails."
"March 29, 2019 -- that is the date when the United Kingdom will leave the European Union. This will be a very sad and tragic moment in our history. We will always regret this -- and I think that you will regret it as well soon, if I might say," Juncker told members of the European Parliament, including Brexit architect Nigel Farage.
"Nonetheless, we have to respect the will of the British people. But we are going to make progress. We will keep moving. We will move on. Because Brexit isn't everything. It's not the future of Europe. It's not the be all and end all."
Juncker's speech, in Strasbourg, France, comes as British and EU leaders ready for a fourth round of Brexit talks this month, and a day after the UK published a paper offering to contribute military assets to the EU. Defense is the UK's most valuable card in Brexit negotiations and London hopes its contribution in the area will yield favorable trade terms from the EU in return.
Juncker called on EU leaders to set out a clear vision for the EU's future ahead of May 2019 European Parliament elections, held just over a month after the UK is scheduled to officially leave the union.
"The 30th of March 2019, on that date it will be a union of 27. And I suggest we prepare very well for that date," he said, calling for a summit in Romania that day.
Juncker gave an insight into his vision for the EU's future and how he hopes to keep the other 27 member states together after a tumultuous period.
Britain voted to leave the union in June 2016. Around the same time, several members of the EU expressed growing discontent over how to handle the migrant crisis, while euroskeptic right-wing parties in several member states gained support.
"When I stood before you this time last year, I had a somewhat easier speech to give. It was plain for all to see that our union was not in a good state. Europe was battered and bruised by something that shocked our very foundation," Juncker said in his opening remarks.
"We only had two choices -- either come together around a positive European agenda or each retreat in our own corners. Faced with this choice, I argued for unity."
Juncker wants to boost trade deals and finalize pending ones by the end of 2019, saying that countries around the world were "knocking at our door" for new agreements. He also called for trade pacts with Australia and New Zealand.
After fierce criticism from Britain over inefficiency in the EU, Juncker proposed that his role as president of the European Commission be merged with that of the European Council.
He repeated a call to create a post for a eurozone finance minister, but added that the post could be filled by an existing commissioner.
And in apparent response to criticism that the bloc focuses on the most menial of issues, Juncker presented a commission with a whittled-down agenda, saying it proposed just 25 initiatives this year, down from 100 two years ago.
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