Michel Barnier: 'Cynical to Get Power' - Brexit, Johnson and the EU's Future

The Lead: Barnier's Candid Assessment of Brexit and Johnson

Former EU negotiator Michel Barnier offers a revealing perspective on Brexit and Boris Johnson, describing the former prime minister as "cynical to get power" regarding his stance on the UK's departure from the European Union. In a recent interview, Barnier reflects on his four years of navigating Brexit negotiations, the impact on both the UK and EU, and the current political landscape in France as it faces potential far-right leadership.

The Brexit Negotiations: A Personal Account

Barnier's journey as the EU's chief Brexit negotiator began a decade ago when he was appointed by then European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker following the Brexit referendum. He navigated four years of complex negotiations with a rotating cast of UK counterparts including David Davis, Dominic Raab, Steve Barclay, and David Frost. His office in the Berlaymont headquarters in Brussels became a meeting ground for various political agitators of the time, including Tony Blair and Nigel Farage, whom he accuses of wanting to "destroy the EU."

The Consequences of Brexit: Barnier's Perspective

"The great lie was to say that everything was due to Brussels," Barnier states, pointing to the UK's weak economic growth and increasingly toxic immigration debate. While he acknowledges that Brexit isn't solely responsible for the UK's current problems, he insists that "all these problems are more difficult because of Brexit." Barnier maintains that the UK's decision to leave rather than use its influence to correct the EU's shortcomings is "incomprehensible."

The EU's Future: Defending Unity Against Far-Right Threats

As France potentially faces a far-right president in the upcoming election—whether Marine Le Pen or Jordan Bardella—Barnier warns against any flexibility that could be exploited by populist movements. "We can never give any kind of argument for Mrs Le Pen or Mr Bardella... to ask for the same treatment: 'Look at the UK, they have no consequence, they pay nothing, they are cherrypicking,'" he insists. "Never, never. At that moment it is the end of the EU."

The Path Forward: Barnier's Vision for Europe

Barnier, who served briefly as France's prime minister in 2024 before his government was brought down, remains active in politics while "hoping to be useful." He emphasizes the indivisibility of the EU's four freedoms—of goods, capital, services, and labor—and warns that compromising on these principles would lead to the unraveling of the entire European project. "If they destroy the EU, then every European country is lost," he concludes.