Jean-Claude Juncker – Photo © European Union 2016 – source EP
(STRASBOURG) – Brexit campaigners in the UK referendum came in for strong criticism in a European Parliament debate on last week’s summit. However, many said the people should be listened to and reform was needed.
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker questioned the patriotism of ‘Brexit’ campaigners, saying “a patriot would not leave the boat when the situation becomes difficult” and “they had no plan on where to go on from here.” He said that reforms should be accelerated and decisions implemented.
Leader of the EPP group Manfred Weber noted that Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage had “jumped ship” when it got tough and called this behaviour “cowardly”. He called for a new political culture of responsibility and “myth-busting” on Europe, as the EU benefits the people, is not undemocratic and can deliver.
Green group leader Rebecca Harms criticised populists and nationalists who use ordinary citizens for their own purposes and lead them to vote against their own interests: “I can only despise the Farages, Le Pens and von Storchs of this world, who set ordinary people against each other”, she said. She added that the remaining 27 EU countries should keep a door open to the UK and to the people and regions wishing to remain in the EU.
Summing up, Mr Juncker said that the Commission cannot fairly be held responsible for the Brexit vote. For 40 years, UK governments have been denying any credit to the EU, he said. “At the end of the day, it does not come as a surprise that people believe what they have been lied to for decades – now the result is there.”
There was no letting up on the message to the British government that it should not delay its EU exit. Council president Donald Tusk repeated his view that while EU leaders understood UK Prime minister Cameron’s decision to postpone the triggering of withdrawal negotiations, they nevertheless expect the new UK government to submit a formal notification as soon as possible and that “no negotiations of any kind” will happen before this notification.
But in the main, the message was that EU leaders needed to respond to the UK’s vote to leave the EU, by doing more to defend the EU project and to make it more transparent, social and responsive to citizens’ concerns.
ECR group leader Syed Kamall said the referendum result was a “wakeup call” for the EU. EU leaders should use the current situation as an opportunity to reconnect with people, make the EU more transparent and focus on the citizens’ legitimate concerns, such as creating growth and jobs.
