LET THIS BE A WARNING, SAYS MACRON
EU must heed ‘Brexit alarm’ and start reform, declares President
EMMANUEL Macron last night said Brexit should act as a ‘historic alarm signal’ for the EU.
In a television address just hours before Britain left, the French president said Brussels must ‘reflect’ on the UK’s decision and reform if it is to survive.
But, to the fury of Brexiteers, he also insisted that Brexit was the result of ‘lies, exaggerations and simplifications’.
Mr Macron said: ‘At midnight, for the first time in 70 years, a country will leave the European Union. This departure is a shock.
‘It is a historic alarm signal that must be heard in each of our countries. It is a sad day, we do not hide it.’ The president is a passionate supporter of the EU, but conceded it is in vital need of reform and must now ‘proceed differently, to build with even more determination a powerful and effective European Union’.
However, he added: ‘The Brexit campaign in 2016 was made up of lies, exaggerations and simplifications. We must always remember what lies can lead to in our democracies.’ Mr Macron also alluded to the Second World War and French and British troops fighting sideby-side. He said: ‘There is a long history between France and Britain, one made of blood, freedom, courage and battles. I will not forget that.’
On a day of high emotion, he was joined by German leader Angela Merkel, who said Brexit was ‘a deep break for us all, the 27 European Union member states and for Germany’.
She added: ‘Germany wants to remain a close partner and friend of Britain, because we are united by common values.’
She said talks which will now begin on the future relationship between the UK and the EU ‘will certainly not be easy’ but that she hoped they can be concluded ‘as quickly as possible’.
Irish premier Leo Varadkar insisted there would ‘always be a place at the table’ for Britain if it ever wants to re-join the Brussels bloc. He said: ‘I profoundly regret that the UK is leaving today, but I absolutely respect their decision to do so.’
Asked what the EU was losing by Britain’s exit, EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said: ‘Within our union we are losing a former member that was very pragmatic, very down to earth, very clear with the economic agenda.’
Former EU Council chief Donald Tusk tweeted: ‘My dear British friends. We were, we are, and we will always be a Community. And no Brexit will ever change that.’
EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier tweeted a message with the EU and UK flags side-byside, and the words: ‘An emotional day. Unity. Transparency. Respect. Our work continues.’
However, leaders in Brussels were criticised for vowing to press ahead with a more federalist Europe, despite repeated pledges to ‘learn the lessons’ from Brexit. Mrs von der Leyen used her farewell speech to champion proposals which would mean member states handing over more money and power to Brussels.
Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said: ‘The leaders of the EU have learned nothing from Brexit.’
Former Tory minister Ann Widdecombe declared the UK a ‘free’ country as British MEPs left the European Parliament for the last time. She led fellow 23 Brexit Party MEPs out to the sound of bagpipes as they carried the Union Flag from the Brussels parliament chamber.