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The Brussels chief said that the disintegration of the euro project would herald a return to the “tragic history” of a Europe at war. In a series of sensationalist remarks he said the continent was living through “dangerous times” due to a rise in opposition to the EU.

GETTY Jean-Claude Juncker has said the fall of the EU could spark World War 3

His remarks mirror those of ex-prime minister David Cameron, who was widely mocked for predicting that Brexit would cause a global conflict. Mr Juncker is currently behind a concerted push by Brussels to acquire its own army which is being vigorously opposed by Britain.

AFP Mr Juncker reacted with dismay to the demise of Italy PM Matteo Renzi

EPA And he slammed populists, like Italy's Five Star Movement leader Beppe Grillo, as irresponsible

Critics have warned that an EU force would fatally undermine NATO, which has been the bedrock of peace in Europe for more than half a century. The EU Commission chief made the comments when asked about the result of the Italian referendum, which has forced out PM Matteo Renzi and further destabilised the ailing EU project. He told the Dutch public broadcaster NPO: “These are dangerous times in which we live. "Of course, the Italians are making the best of it, but I am concerned about the increasing number of politicians in Europe who are willing to play the anti-EU card.”

These are dangerous times in which we live Jean-Claude Juncker

The Italian vote was ostensibly about constitutional reforms, but is being widely seen as a damning verdict on both the Italian establishment and Brussels. It has propelled the anti-euro Five Star Movement to the forefront of Italian politics, heralding an election at which the populist movement is expected to make significant gains. And asked about the potential impact of the break-up of the EU, Mr Juncker gloomily predicted it would lead to a a repeat of the “tragic history of this continent”. The EU bigwig said that such a conflict may not only take a military form, but also a financial one between European countries competing in the age of globalisation. He said: "Take the financial crisis. If we had not worked together, and if all the banks had taken their own decisions, then it would have been a financial war."

4,000 NATO troops take part in Lithuania’s largest exercise near Russia’s border Mon, November 28, 2016 Eleven NATO countries have sent 4,000 troops to Lithuania, the largest Baltic nation, to participate in this year’s Iron Sword exercises. The war games are meant to test the country’s ability to rapidly deploy a large number of troops. Play slideshow Getty Images 1 of 36 Members of the U.S. 173rd Airborne Brigade fire blanks from a machine gun during a simulated attack