Divide and conquer: how Britain could use Brexit negotiations to split remaining EU members
European Commission boss warns promises to individual countries could be used to destroy united front
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker fears Britain will divide the EU’s 27 remaining members by making different promises to each country during its Brexit negotiations.
“The other EU 27 don’t know it yet, but the Brits know very well how they can tackle this,” Juncker told Deutschlandfunk radio. “They could promise country A this, country B that and country C something else and the end game is that there is not a united European front.”
The Brits will manage without big effort to divide the remaining 27 member states
Britain will by the end of March trigger formal divorce talks with the EU, a major test for the bloc which is struggling to have a grip on other challenges like keeping Greece in the euro zone, the refugee crisis and the election of Donald Trump as US president.
To add to all of that, the Netherlands, France and Germany are holding general elections this year, in which populist anti-EU parties are expected to make strong showings.
“Now everyone is saying in relation to Trump and Brexit: ‘Now is Europe’s big chance. Now is the time to close ranks and march together’,” Juncker said in the radio interview which will be aired on Sunday.
“I wish it will be like this, but will it happen? I have some doubt. Because the Brits will manage without big effort to divide the remaining 27 member states.”