Britain will regret Brexit vote... as the EU moves on, says president
BRITAIN WILL soon regret voting for Brexit, but the European Union will move on, the European Commission president has insisted.
In a speech setting out the future direction of the bloc, Jean-Claude Juncker said the UK’s exit would be a “sad and tragic” moment, but it was “not the be all and end all”.
Mr Juncker evoked the Queen to describe how Brexit helped to make 2016 an “annus horribilis” for the European project. But during the annual state of the union address, he insisted the “wind is back in Europe’s sails” and countries were knocking on Brussels’ door to do trade deals with the EU.
Setting out hopes for closer integration, Mr Juncker announced plans to increase passport-free movement around the EU, expand use of the euro and boost the number of member states.
But the hour-long speech, which ranged over areas as diverse as the quality of fish fingers to plans to create a super-presidency role, Brexit was given a notably short slot near the end.
Mr Juncker said: “This will be a very sad and tragic moment in our history. We will always regret this, and I think that you will regret it as well, soon.”
Meanwhile, France’s economy minister has called for “more clarity and less ambiguity” from the UK Government on its plans for Brexit.
Benjamin Griveaux was speaking during a trip to London to meet leaders of the financial services industry who, he believes, may want to move activities and staff to Paris because of Britain’s planned withdrawal from the EU. Mr Griveaux insisted he was promoting “fair competition”, rather than seeking to poach jobs from the UK.