Jean-Claude Juncker today called for EU unity before attacking “part-time Europeans” in a Florence speech that exposed deep divisions in the bloc and was given as Eurosceptic parties edge closer to forming Italy's new government.

The president of the European Commission did not directly address the possibility of anti-EU parties taking power in Rome, which became increasingly likely yesterday.

But he decried “the return of populisms and nationalisms” in Europe at the annual state of the union conference in Italy.

The left wing Five Star Movement, which has called for Italy to leave the euro, and right wing The League, which made gains on an anti-migrant platform, have launched detailed talks to form a coalition that would bring a Eurosceptic government to the Eurozone's third largest economy.

While Five Star has edged back from an earlier promise to hold a referendum on ditching the euro, The League remains hostile to the currency and wants to abandon it as soon as possible.

Both parties, who were rivals in March's election, have attacked EU rules on national budgets, trade deals, sanctions against Russia and banking rules.

Mr Juncker highlighted divisions in the EU between the richer northern countries that “believes they are more virtuous” than poorer southern Mediterranean nations. He criticised Eastern European countries for refusing EU migrant relocation quotas, while praising Italy and Greece, which have borne the brunt of the migration crisis.