‘Brexit is a warning and a failure of the European Union’ Michel Barnier

The European Parliament held its debate to give consent to the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement today (27 April). Michel Barnier, former chief negotiator for the EU addressed MEPs, saying that Brexit is a warning and a failure of the European Union. 

Barnier said: “We have to learn lessons from [Brexit]. As politicians here in the European Parliament, the Council and in all capitals, we have to ask why did 52% of the British vote against Europe? There are reasons for that social anger and tension which existed in many regions in the UK, but also in many regions of the EU. 

“Our duty is to listen and understand the feelings of the people. This social anger shouldn't be confused with populism. We should do everything to respond to this in each member state and at the Union level and continue to show the value added of what we do together to ensure that we can be prosperous, independent and safe and secure, that is what is at stake and will be discussed in the conference on the future of Europe, which we'll be opening in a couple of days.”

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