Brexit, now believes Barnier, was “primarily a failure of the EU”. The decision of Britain to vote to leave, he said in an interview this week, cannot be written off as populism. Rather many voters felt “abandoned” by the bloc as it failed to address concerns about the loss of manufacturing jobs and the effects of uncontrolled migration.
It is little wonder that Barnier has changed his tune somewhat. As he campaigns for next May’s presidential election, he is coming to realise that many of the issues bother the French public, too.
Indeed, if he doesn’t address French disenchantment with the EU he has no chance of winning. An opinion poll published six weeks ago – the Standard Eurobarometer – found that just 36 per cent of the French public trust the EU and its institutions, while 50 per cent say they do not trust them.
This story is from the December 03, 2021 edition of Daily Express.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 03, 2021 edition of Daily Express.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
TIME TO SHOW I'M THE DADDY
Arteta's bid for title continues against 'father figure' Mauricio
Fletcher's trophy talk fired up Fernandes
DARREN GAVE UNITED A FINAL PUSH FOR GLORY
SELBY TO WEIGH UP HIS FUTURE
Four-time champion needs a break after O'Connor shock
LIGHT ON FOR REPEAT
Williams' chaser bids for a famous Gold Cup double
D-Day vet dies after revisiting beaches
D-DAY hero Harry Howarth has died at 103, weeks after fulfilling a lifetime ambition to pay his respects to fallen comrades at Sword Beach.
Let us bring back beavers ...instead of killing them
LICENCES to release beavers into the wild are being \"cruelly\" blocked which leaves them at risk of being killed by farmers, say campaigners.
Children under 5 among 50 treated in hospitals for vaping illnesses
CHILDREN as young as four are being treated in hospital after falling ill from vaping, figures have revealed.
Hundreds of bodies uncovered at mass graves in Gaza Strip
HUNDREDS of Palestinian bodies have been discovered in a series of mass graves in southern Gaza.
MP demands new minister to protect the national flag
ENGLISH and British national identity is \"under attack\", a Tory MP has warned.
Thames Water threat to hike customer bills by £50 a month
CAMPAIGNERS yesterday accused Thames Water of making the public pay for its failures following plans to raise customers' bills by £50 a month.