United Kingdom withdrawal from the European Union

'They thought they knew us' Former EU Commissioner says Brussels MISJUDGED Brexit attitude

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• published: 09 Nov 2017
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BREXIT made Brussels realise the British public has never had a great consideration of the European Union, according to former British Commissioner Jonathan Faull. Mr Faull said the Brexit referendum unveiled the "full cocktail of issues" Great Britain has had with Brussels since its membership started in 1973. The former Eurocrat said: "I accept many of the issues which were discussed in the referendum campaign are shared, to varying degrees, with other member states of the European Union but I don’t think any other country had the full cocktail of issues. "I also don’t think any other country had the same starting point in the way it thinks about Europe as we do in this country." Before the Brexit vote, Mr Faull was charged with leading a task force focused on negotiating a new package of reforms to convince the UK to remain a member of the European Union. Mr Faull said the Brexit vote revealed to other EU member states they had misjudged the UK's attitude towards the European project. During a conference at the Centre for European Research, he continued: "A lot of people who thought they knew us pretty well are realising there is more to the United Kingdom than what meets their usually admiring eyes. "We had told our continental partners that we were governed by rational and pragmatic people, not given to great ideological passion. British officials were known for saying, ‘before we start trying to identify the solution to a problem, let’s talk about whether there’s a problem in the first place." He said EU leaders were limited to a London-centric view of the British political system before the referendum but Brexit opened their eyes. But as Brexit Britain prepares to depart the European Union talks on the future relationship between the two parties appear to have reached a standstill. According to Politico, Germany and France are preparing two sets of draft conclusions demanding no automatic continuation of Brexit talks to phase two unless “sufficient progress” is made. British officials see France and Germany as the key member states they need to convince. Diplomats and officials have warned the slow pace of the Brexit divorce talks could increase the possibility EU leaders would refuse to open trade negotiations in December. The talks have moved very slowly since their launch in June, particularly the bill, which the EU think should be around £53 million.