'Brexit will never come back!' Verhofstadt vows to use 'opportunity' to tighten grip on EU
GUY VERHOFSTADT, chairman of the European Parliament’s Brexit Steering Group, has vowed to use Britain’s European Union divorce to tighten the bloc’s grip on its member states to ensure Brexit will never happen again.
Verhofstadt claims Brexit will NEVER happen AGAIN
The Belgian MEP described Brexit as a “historic opportunity” to move the EU toward further integration by introducing a group of transnational MEPs to replace departing Britons from the Parliament.
Currently, the European Parliament has 751 sitting MEPs, including the British contingent of 73 politicians in Brussels.
During the next European election, in May 2019, the British seats will be redistributed across the Parliament.
The Constitutional Affairs Committee voted on a proposal to redistribute 46 of the UK’s 73 seats to other countries.
Let’s not waste this historic opportunity. Brexit will never come back
Britain’s remaining 27 seats will become free-floating, transnational MEPs that are meant to represent all the citizens of Europe.
Critics of the plan, including Hungarian MEP Gyorgy Schopflin, have said the transnational MEPs will, in fact, be accountable to nowhere, therefore having “power without responsibility”.
Mr Verhofstadt had another idea, saying giving the European electorate a second vote would enable them to vote for their national candidate as well as a transnational one.
The Belgian MEP said the proposal would “strengthen the link between citizens and the European Union”.
Hungarian MEP blasts 'top-down elite-driven' transnational list
He added: “People say federal states don’t have it. Wrong, they want it. My own country, Belgium, is a federal state, and many of them want a federal constituency.
"And there are the separatists who are against it.”
Mr Verhofstadt questioned those critics who said transnational MEPs will only benefit the EU’s largest states, claiming the “vision, passion and commitment” will trump monetary power.
Using Brexit as an example, he concluded by announcing a tabled amendment to the proposal.
The Belgian MEP concluded: “Nevertheless, I have tabled an amendment together with Pascal Durand to ensure a geographical balance.
“Let’s not waste this historic opportunity. Brexit will never come back.
“Never we will see again that half of the Council members are in favour of it.
“Altiero Spinelli, the father of this European Parliament, would turn in his grave if we would miss this unique opportunity.”