Taking back control! Barnier offers French citizens vote to ‘regain our legal sovereignty’

Michel Barnier 'did his utmost to stop Brexit' says Farage

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The former Brexit negotiator for the EU is running as Emmanuel Macron’s rival for the 2022 French Presidential elections. In a move that resembles that of a staunch eurosceptic, Mr Barnier said his party would propose a halt to non-EU immigration and a referendum on France’s legal sovereignty from EU courts. 

He told French TV: “The question of immigration is serious, it will cause ruptures.

“To deal with it, we are proposing a moratorium on immigration and a referendum to regain our legal sovereignty in certain areas.”

The French politician had already made the shocking proposal earlier this month, sparking controversy in France and across the bloc.

In an unexpected blow to Brussels, Mr Barnier said France should “no longer be subject to the rulings of the CJEU or the ECHR”.

The French Presidential candidate explained that regaining national sovereignty from EU courts would allow France to decide on its own immigration law.

He also called for “rebuilding French influence” in the face of Germany’s “domination” in the EU.

The comments appeared particularly shocking as they suggest he would like to “cherry-pick” parts of EU laws and directives to disregard when it comes to France’s immigration policy – something he accused the UK of doing whilst he negotiated a Brexit deal for the EU.

Mr Barnier, 70, served as the European Commission’s Head of Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom from 2019 to 2021, the head negotiator in the fractious pre-Brexit years.

A prominent French politician, his cabinet career and influence dates back to the 1990s.

After the UK officially left the EU, Mr Barnier was appointed as special adviser to EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, overseeing the ratification of the Brexit agreement.

Mr Barnier, 70, served as the European Commission’s Head of Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom from 2019 to 2021, the head negotiator in the fractious pre-Brexit years.

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A prominent French politician, his cabinet career and influence dates back to the 1990s.

After the UK officially left the EU, Mr Barnier was appointed as special adviser to EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, overseeing the ratification of the Brexit agreement.

Responding to Mr Barnier’s out-of-character attack on the European courts, Conservative MP Simon Clarke tweeted: “This is ironic in the extreme.”

The latest comments come as Michel Barnier has made a series of U-Turn statements surrounding the European Union and Brexit in recent weeks which has left observers baffled.

Last week the former EU Commissioner gloated about the success of Brexit, claiming the UK’s withdrawal “saved the single market”.

He said: “The Brexit negotiation was a real battle. It was respectful, carried out collectively with the support of the 27 States of the Union and of the European Parliament, in transparency vis-à-vis governments and citizens, but it was a battle.

“We saved the single market, which was threatened, a crucial market for France and all of the 27, for our businesses and our jobs.”

Polls in France have next year’s Presidential contest as a race between current President Emmanuel Macron and far-right National Rally candidate Marine Le Pen.

But Mr Barnier is hoping to make a strong showing in the first round of the contest, which is scheduled for April 2022.

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