European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker gave a wide ranging interview to three Austrian newspapers. He indicated that Brexit deal is possible, highlighting the narrowing of the gap between the two parties in the last weeks. He also spoke about Italy, the rule of law and radicalism.
Here are highlights from Juncker’s interview.
About Brexit:
The exit agreement and the declaration on future relations between the UK and Europe can not be strictly separated. I have reason to think that the rapprochement potential between both sides has increased in recent days. But it can not be foreseen whether we will finish in October. If not, we’ll do it in November.
I think we need to refrain from this “no deal” scenario. That would not be good for the UK as it is for the rest of the Union. I assume that we will reach agreement on the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement. We also need to agree on a political statement that accompanies this withdrawal agreement. We are not that far yet. But our will is unbroken to reach agreement with the British Government. It must be remembered time and again that Britain is leaving the Union, not the European Union from the UK.
Asked whether an exit from Brexit still possible? Juncker said that is not a question that concerns the Commission or the Union as such. That is in the discretion of the British Parliament and the government. I do not interfere in inner cabinet debates in the UK. There is enough confusion.
About Italy:
The fact that two Italian Deputy Prime Ministers have since become vile about the European Union as an institution in the overall structure of the continent leaves much to be seen. Italy is in a difficult position. I said in Freiburg that the euro was in jeopardy if all of them claimed special rules in such a way that they did not respect previous agreements in the context of economic and budgetary policy coordination. I have not compared Italy with Greece. I have had to solve this crisis together with some others. I do not feel like starting over again. I also do not compare Italy with Greece, despite high debt levels and despite an excessive budget deficit. We now have to talk to the Italians in a noble competition of ideas. It is not the case that the Commission is taking action to replace this Italian Government. That is not the task of the Commission. It has to respect compliance with the rules, and we have included in the Causa Italy flexibility lines within the scope of the Growth and Stability Pact. Italy could make expenditures that it could not have done with stricter – but not smart – application of the pact.
About radicalism:
Addressing the journalists as an example, he said if there is a danger of freedom of the press, for the fundamental rights, if you are invited to intolerance, then you have to get up. It is not enough if we complain about this phenomenon in darkened back rooms. You have to face this phenomenon. Incidentally, I make a subtle difference between those who think radically and those who talk radically. I have a lot of understanding for people skeptical about the EU. Because there are legitimate questions to the address of the European Union, including the Commission. You have to answer that. You have to talk to the Eurosceptic people. By the way, sometimes I am myself, I am not free from sometimes occurring Euroscepticism. But I am not on the way to the fundamental opposition.
About illiberal democracy:
If illiberal would mean stigmatising foreigners for no reason , because they are different from us, if we make medium to deep attacks on freedom of expression, ie freedom of the press , when we say goodbye to the European Union’s code of conduct As you can see in the contract, a stage has been reached when you need to apply these tools, I mean Article 7 of the Treaty.
About the geopolitical world scenario:
As long as we include unanimity in foreign policy issues in the darkroom, we will not be able to present European positions in unison on key issues of the time. That is why I have proposed that in certain foreign policy fields, we should act by a qualified majority in the Council. But otherwise, we do not have an equidistant relationship with the US and China. There is a long tradition of post-war relations that can not be questioned or endangered. It’s a difficult relationship with China, although I have very good relations with the President and the Prime Minister. As the European Union, we are very much prepared for multilateralism, and we do not like it at all when some, like the United States, give cold shoulder to multilateralism.
