Jean-Claude Juncker’s State of the Union speech has been branded "insipid and faulty" and compared to a “funeral for the European Union” by prominent eurosceptic politician Marine Le Pen.

Ms Le Pen, leader of the right wing Front National party, also promised a referendum in France on EU membership if elected as French President in 2017.

In a wide-ranging speech, Mr Juncker admitted the EU is facing an existential crisis in the face of rising nationalism and populism. He expressed “respect and regret” at the UK’s vote to leave the union.

He also spoke about inequality and social justice, trade, migration and borders, security and defence and Syria.

But Ms Le Pen branded the speech “insipid and faulty" and said “this is like a funeral for the European Union.”

She continued: "You haven’t been paying attention to the ambition of people in the European Union to re-establish and retake their sovereignty and their independence."

Ms Le Pen added that the British vote to leave the EU proved withdrawal was possible without harmful ramifications.

“Brexit has really broken a taboo, it has showed that one can leave the EU and come out better,” Ms Le Pen said.

Brexit racism and the fightback Show all 9 1 /9 Brexit racism and the fightback Brexit racism and the fightback Demonstrators protest against an increase in post-ref racism at London's March for Europe in July 2016 PA Brexit racism and the fightback These cards were found near a school in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, the day after the EU referendum Twitter/@howgilb Brexit racism and the fightback LONDON, UK - JULY 16 : A speaker addresses the EDL members at Hyde Park. About a hundred members of The English Defence League (EDL) march on Park Lane for a rally in Hyde Park. The march on 16 July 2016 was heavily policed keeping the group away from the public. (Photo by David Mbiyu/Corbis via Getty Images) Getty Brexit racism and the fightback Romford, Essex, June 25 @diamondgeezer Brexit racism and the fightback A worker at this Romanian food shop was asleep upstairs at the time of this arson attack in Norwich on July 8, but escaped unharmed. Hundreds later participated in a ‘love bombing’ rally outside the shop to express their opposition to racism and their support of the shop owners. JustGiving/Helen Linehan Brexit racism and the fightback This neo-Nazi sticker was spotted in Glasgow on June 26 Courtesy of Eoin Palmer Brexit racism and the fightback But after news emerged of neo-Nazi stickers appearing in Glasgow, some in the city struck back with slogans of their own. Courtesy of Eoin Palmer Brexit racism and the fightback The Peoples Assembly Against Austerity, Black Live Matters and The Socialist Workers Party organised a march on Saturday July 16th in London, United Kingdom, against austerity, cuts and Racism. The groups also marched in solidarity against Tory government policies. (Photo by Gail Orenstein/NurPhoto via Getty Images) Getty Brexit racism and the fightback More signs began to appear in some parts of the UK, created by people who wanted to show their opposition to post-referendum racism Courtesy of Bernadette Russell

“The catastrophic visions were just a lie. The UK is doing quite well, the shock that you wanted to see has now turned into trust, everybody thought there was going to be apocalypse falling on the UK but that didn’t happen.”

Ms Le Pen’s comments were welcomed by some in the chamber, including many Ukip MEPs. However, not all representatives looked upon it favourably. Labour MEP for Yorkshire and Humber, Richard Corbett, described the applause as a “very unpleasant sight”.

During his speech, Mr Juncker admitted that the EU “doesn’t have enough union…There are splits out there and often fragmentation exists…That is leaving scope for galloping populism.”

He also used the suspected racist murder of a Polish national in Harlow, Essex, as an example of what can happen if Europe becomes divided.

“We Europeans can never accept Polish workers being beaten up, harassed or even murdered in the streets of Essex,” Mr Juncker said.