Dutch diplomat issues Brexit threat in desperate bid to convince other EU members to stay
Brexit: Sigrid Kaag warns the 'threats are even bigger'
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Dutch diplomat and Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Sigrid Kaag, demanded member states realise the importance of the EU despite Brexit. While speaking for think tank Centre for European Reform in a webinar, she insisted the threats were greater outside of the EU. She also claimed Britain was discovering what it meant to be isolated and alone out of the EU and added she wanted this message to be clearer to members.
She added the EU had no choice but to become more unified and thus stronger to compete in the global world.
Ms Kaag said: “The message is not heard.
“A stronger and more unified Europe is extremely important.
“As I mentioned before, I truly hope that most other countries may have been dreaming of their own Brexit, whatever letter of the country comes ahead of exit.
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“I hope they have seen the reality of what it means to be on your own, in a global world, where competition is tough and the threats are even bigger.
“We have no choice.
“Europe is not only a moral imperative but it is a smart choice and we need to make it work”
With the completion of Brexit, fears that the EU could push for more nations to adopt the Euro have been reignited.
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Brussels has had to adjust its budget as the UK’s £60billion in contributions is lost after Brexit.
There is also a worry among non-eurozone countries that they have lost a key ally in Britain, and that Brussels could attempt to lure them into adopting the shared currency.
Sebastian Plociennik, head of the EU programme at the Polish Institute of International Affairs warned in 2016 that multiple currencies could be pressured into taking up the Euro.
He said: “The UK’s exit from the EU will change the relationship between eurozone countries and those without the common currency, to the detriment of the latter.
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“They will be faced with a choice between fast-track adoption of the euro or political and economic marginalisation.”
Tony Barber also wrote for the World Economic Forum in 2016 about the growing concerns regarding the balance of power in Europe.
He said: “The non-euro nations are worried that, without the UK, the EU balance of power will swing strongly in favour of eurozone governments.
“That could make it more difficult for the interests of those outside the single currency to gain a proper hearing.”
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