By Ben Kerrigan-
EU president, Jean Claude Juncker, has strangely thanked Britain for the second world war.
The EU president said the euro had prevented other wars in Europe, as EU leaders prepared to begin trade and transition talks, without including Britain. EU chiefs have emphasised that negotiations will not begin until sufficient progress has been made on the Brexit bill and the rights of EU citizens in the UK.
“I am not hating the British. The Europeans have to be grateful for so many things Britain has brought to Europe, during war, before war after war, everywhere and every time, but now they have to pay. ” Juncker’s reference to thanking Britain for the war stinks of vengeance, and is missing the professionalism expected of a man of Juncker’s political position. A deadlock in talks between the EU and the Uk provides no grounds for expressing such level of hate and bitterness. Juncker’s claim not to be hatingthe British is false, the EU president is doing just that.
According to an internal draft document, 27 EU countries are due to discuss trade among themselves while officials in Brussels prepare the details. Mr. Juncker spoke about the UK in mainly sarcastic terms, insisting at the end that “they have to pay”. In Luxembourg, Mr Juncker used the analogy of someone covering the bill after ordering 28 beers at a bar to explain the EU’s position , adding that the Brexit negotiating process was taking longer than expected.
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Insufficient progress has been made to move to the next stage of post-Brexit trade talks, he said. The Uk is effectively running behind the schedule of their hopes. The draft paper submitted to the 27 EU states by European Council president Donald Tusk, suggests free trade talks could open in December – should Prime Minister Theresa May improve her offer on what the UK pays when it leaves. Talks have not moved as quickly as desired at this stage, but Juncker appears to be going slightly below the belt in his reference to the second world war, thereby adding unnecessary needle to the temperature of the talks. The EU president, like the rest of us should hope for the best too, and wotrk steadily to try to se eit come to pass.