Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European Union’s (EU) unelected executive arm, has complained that too many EU officials are listening to “national opinion” rather than pushing for an unwanted European super state.
The UK has been a long-standing opponent of the creation of a European super-state. However, on the eve of Britain’s vote on its membership of the EU, Mr. Junker has reaffirmed his intention to undemocratically push for its creation.
“In former times, all those implied in the project were full-time Europeans. Now we have too many part-time Europeans,” he said, according to the Independent.
Adding: “That is a problem because some of our colleagues in the European Council are listening exclusively to their national opinion.
“And if you listen to your national opinion, you are not developing what should be common European sense, a feeling for the need we have to put together our efforts.”
Before his much-derided “renegotiation”, Prime Minister David Cameron promised to “exempt” the UK from the commitment of “ever closer union” contained in EU treaties. The document he left with contained the words:
“It is recognised that the United Kingdom … is not committed to further political integration in the European Union … References to ever-closer union do not apply to the United Kingdom.”
However, the promise is not legally binding and may require treaty change – which means referendums in all 28-member states – to make it so.
Emmanuel Macron, the French economic minister, has also waded into the Brexit debate by reaffirming his commitment to aggressive integration.
“Our challenge, the day after, is twofold: to avoid contamination caused by Brexit and restart immediately a positive project for Europe,” he said.
Adding: “The European project cannot only be a system of abolishing rules. It will be the end of the ultraliberal Europe that the British pushed us into, a Europe without a political plan, centred on its domestic market.”