BREXIT BASH: French ambassador mocks ‘unstable’ UK and says EU has more pressing concerns
THE French ambassador to London has blasted Britain as “unstable” and said the European Union has far greater concerns than Brexit.
French Ambassador mocks 'secure and stable' Britain
Sylvie Bermann mocked Britain by claiming the nation been a “secure and stable” country three years ago when she took up her position, but it’s “a bit different now”.
She added the UK should pay more attention to the EU27 countries and accused politicians on being too focused on arguing amongst themselves.
Interviewed on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme, Ms Bermann said British politicians were “talking to themselves” when they ought to be thinking about the bigger picture.
She added that the EU had far greater concerns than Brexit and would not regard it as such a huge priority.
She said: “I think it is very important that they also listen to the 27.
“The situation is so complex... in this country you are talking from morning to night about Brexit.
Sylvie Bermann spoke on BBC Radio's Today Programme
The situation is so complex... in this country you are talking from morning to night about Brexit
“That is not the case in the EU.
“There is a discrepancy. I think it is important to have in mind others' position.”
It is not the first time Ms Bermann has made controversial comments on Brexit, as she blasted the vote as not “pragmatic” or “rational” in August.
Ms Bermann mocked Britain by claiming the nation been a 'secure and stable' country three years
She said she had previously thought of the UK as a nation which prioritised its economy above all else.
The diplomat told France 24: “Frankly, what surprised me most [during my tenure as ambassador] was Brexit because we have always thought of the British people as being very pragmatic and taking rational decisions based on their economic interests.
“Yet we know that this time it wasn’t the overriding factor in the decision to leave the EU.”
It comes after EU Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker’s top aide Martin Selmayr branded Brexit “stupid” in an astonishing attack on Leave voters.
He made his comments amid fears in Brussels that the UK will walk away instead of paying a significant divorce bill.
Mr Selmayr told a conference in Brussels: “Brexit is bad, and it’s a stupid decision.”
She said she had previously thought of the UK as a nation which prioritised its economy
He also suggested the decision could be reversed in a huge blow to voters keen to reclaim British sovereignty.
The Commission can force a reversal of the Brexit result, he claimed. With several referenda across the EU reversed since the 1990’s, he hinted he was optimistic for a rerun of last year’s vote.
He said: “The door of the European Union after March 2019 will always be open, and to all of our British friends, of course that is something that we humanly wish.
Martin Selmayr branded Brexit 'stupid' in an astonishing attack on Leave voters
French politician Bruno Le Maire 'deeply regrets' Brexit decision
However, he said “politically at the moment this option is not on the table” and he noted that “the only people who can reverse it would be the British people".
He added: “I am not a dreamer, I am a realist. Brexit will happen on March 29, 2019.”
In a more menacing tone, the senior German EU official said Britain needs to be “educated” on the consequences of leaving the EU.
Jean-Claude Juncker is the EU Commission chief
His comment reflected the new aggressive tone being adopted by Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief negotiator.
He told the BBC that the EU intended “to teach people” in the U.K. about what leaving the bloc’s single market means.