UK will be pushed off the table after Brexit, warns Michel Barnier, and urges EU to stick together

0
159

BRITAIN will be “pushed off the table” and could lose its power on the world stage after Brexit, EU negotiator Michel Barnier warned today.

Mr Barnier urged the bloc’s member states to stick together in upcoming trade talks if they want to keep their international might.

EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier warned the UK could be pushed off the table on the world stage

The EU chief negotiator ramped up the bluster before trade talks kick off next week, warning the UK they could lose their influence if they distance themselves too much from the bloc.

Speaking at an academic event in EU Parliament he said: “Individually, countries are simply pushed off the table.

“When we stay together and support the single market (we are stronger) compared to what happens when we are alone.”

And Mr Barnier even tried to claim the UK’s economy would fall behind the EU 27 Member States after Brexit.

He continued: “The British have chosen to be alone, rather than be together.”

“If we want to stay at the table, we have to remain together as European patriots, if we want to protect our values, if we want to make sure we are deciding in the order of the world, we need to remain together, otherwise we are stripped of influence and of any say.”

“I say this to make sure my country and the continent does not end up in that situation.”

Mr Barnier hammered home the message that Brussels wanted to offer the UK “super preferential access” to European markets, but that it would come with a price.

He said: “We’re ready to offer the UK super preferential access to our markets. This with a direct competitor right on our doorstep. Is this something we can do without firm guarantees the UK will avoid unfair competitive advantages?

“The answer, I’m afraid is simple – we cannot.”

And he also made clear the EU hostility towards the Australian-style points based immigration system announced by the PM.

He said: “We will accept no discrimination in terms of our nationals (on migration)… the (points based system) is certainly very different.”

His comments come a day after the EU published their Brexit blueprint for the trade talks which are due to start next Monday.

He slapped down British hopes of striking a Canada-style traded deal, and tried to tell Britain it would have to follow European rules on fishing, trade and the courts.

Boris Johnson met with EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen last month