Michel Barnier: Brexit Made UK Problems Harder to Solve, Not Cause Them
The EU's former chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said in an interview that leaving the EU did not cause all of Britain's problems but made them more difficult. He also described Boris Johnson as 'cynical to get power' and recalled negotiating with multiple UK counterparts.
Michel Barnier, who led the EU's negotiating team after the Brexit referendum, recently shared anecdotes from his time in office. In an interview, he revealed spending a weekend with Stanley Johnson, father of Boris Johnson, at a French castle. Barnier described the encounter as friendly, with long forest walks, and characterized Boris Johnson as 'cynical to get power' and pragmatic in his approach to Brexit.
Barnier oversaw four years of negotiations with a rotating cast of UK counterparts including David Davis, Dominic Raab, Steve Barclay, and David Frost. He also met Tony Blair, whom he believed never seriously considered a second referendum, and Nigel Farage, accusing him of wanting to destroy the EU with Russian help. Barnier emphasized that the 'big lie' was blaming Brussels for all problems, a narrative that no longer works as Farage cannot fault the EU for current issues.
While acknowledging EU mistakes such as excessive bureaucracy and weak external border controls, Barnier noted that the UK shared responsibility. He expressed confusion as to why Britain left instead of using its influence to correct the bloc's course.
Barnier is now working to establish a European Council for Defence and Security including the UK, Ukraine, and Norway. He recalled a dinner where Boris Johnson threatened to prioritize defence cooperation over trade, but Barnier reminded him that Johnson himself had previously ruled out such a deal. Barnier admitted he was never impressed by Johnson's threats to leave without a deal.
On the possibility of the UK rejoining the EU, Barnier said it could happen while retaining opt-outs from the euro and Schengen. However, he was less definitive about the budget rebate. He predicted that as the world becomes more dangerous, the British people will increasingly see the value of being part of the EU.
