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The sinister plot involves sidelining individual countries by removing them from the decision-making process and banning member states from opting out of unpopular policies like the Schengen zone and the Euro. It comes as federalists in Brussels look to take advantage of Brexit to force home their long-cherished dream of a United States of Europe, in which the continent’s distinct and unique countries will cease to exist. Belgian MEP Guy Verhofstadt, the leader of the liberals in the European parliament, has launched the six point plan which he hopes to start implementing within six months.

Under his proposal individual member states would be scrapped and Europe would move towards a republican form of governance based on the system used in the United States. Verhofstadt, a former Prime Minister of Belgium, is reviving controversial proposals for an EU President which were shelved when plans for a European Constitution were abandoned amid a mass outcry in 2004. He also calls for radical reform of the European Commission, which makes Brussels law, to turn it into a “small European government” made up of 12 ministers.

GETTY A six-point plan has been unveiled for a European superstate

GETTY Belgian MEP Guy Verhofstadt has called for a US-style Brussels government

Currently the Commission is composed of 28 bureaucrats from each of the member states who are supposed to represent the interests of their governments on the unelected body. And Verhofstadt says the new government should be handed the powers currently exercised by the European Council, which is made up of the elected heads of national governments, and which he describes as “the place where plans go to die”. The proposals are likely to cause fury across the EU as they would effectively neutralise member states’ influence on decision making, taking away their veto and leaving all the power in the hands of Brussels bureaucrats and MEPs. Elsewhere in his superstate blueprint the arch-federalist calls for the creation of a European FBI which would have the power to launch police operations in any member state, operating above and beyond the local authorities.

And he calls once again for the creation of an EU border force and coastguard to take over control of policing the continent’s frontiers from national governments. He says: “We should not be naive. We need to protect ourselves against those who abuse our freedom, that threaten our European society, our way of life.” To that end Verhofstadt reiterates controversial calls for a European Army which have already been repeatedly made by his boss, Brussels chief Jean-Claude Juncker, and are believed to be favoured by German leader Angela Merkel. The liberal MEP claims that the creation of a Brussels force is the “only way” to defeat Islamic State (ISIS) and convince NATO allies including the US that Europeans are playing their part on the global stage.

GETTY Under the proposal the EU would have a centralised treasury, army and police force

GETTY Germany is also pushing calls for an EU Army

And he accuses “populists” like former UKIP leader Nigel Farage of “lying” to people when they say that bringing back border controls would help in the fight against Islamist terror. He says: “Populists try to make us believe that by closing our borders we will be safe. They are lying. The only way to protect Europe is to build a strong and united defence. “Only a European army with a unity in command will increase our capacity to defend ourselves. Only then will we be capable to defeat ISIS, only then can we stand up to Putin again and only then will we possess a credible alternative for the Americans.” Finally Verhofstadt suggests using Britain’s exit from the EU as a catalyst to speed up complete political union and end the rights countries currently enjoy to opt out of unpopular Brussels policies. His proposal is likely to cause alarm in a number of countries, including Sweden and Denmark which are not in the Euro and Ireland which is not part of the Schengen free movement zone.

The veteran MEP says Brussels should end the current system of opt-ins and opt-outs which has created a “Europe a la carte” and blames Britain for being a bulwark against federalisation. And he compares the current situation to an America where California had its own currency or where Florida refused to participate in the FBI, describing the EU as “not a real union”. Instead, member states should be given an ultimatum to either accept all the terms the Brussels club lays down or leave and become an “associate member” with access only to the single market. He says: “The Brexit offers an ideal moment to put an end to this. “Britain has always been the champion of this Europe a la carte. It doesn’t participate in the Euro, Schengen, and in a lot of other policies and on top of that it benefitted from a huge rebate in the budget. “As Britain has now decided to leave the union it is time to get rid of this bureaucratic and complex system.”

EU referendum Sat, February 20, 2016 With an in/out referendum on EU membership set for June 23 this year, we're taking an overview look of David Cameron's two-day visit at EU summit at EU headquarters in Brussels and his return to Downing Street to meet with his cabinet. Play slideshow AFP/Getty Images 1 of 21 British Prime Minister David Cameron speaks at Downing Street