Brexit has offered EU member states the opportunity to “renew” their “vows”, claims a Eurocrat.
Mairead McGuiness, EU Commissioner, argued that Brussels has “strengthened internally” since the UK decided to leave, citing other concerns like as the Covid epidemic and Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
Ms McGuiness stated on Tonight with Andrew Marr on LBC: “We’ve had some change, nothing will be the same after Brexit, but Brexit was seven years ago, and we’ve only recently concluded various agreements.”
“If you look at it from an EU point of view, Europe didn’t disintegrate either.”
“What was interesting was we took the opportunity to renew our vows, we strengthened internally because there were other pressures like Covid, the pandemic, the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“So, I think none of us would like to see the other weaker. Or at least that is my perspective on this. Of course, a strong UK is important for a strong European Union.
“Maybe all of the talk after the referendum was part of a divorce settlement where we were had lots of harsh words for each other, it took a while to reach an agreement. But we have delivered now.
“And I think what’s really good for me being in London today and tomorrow is the Windsor Framework agreed between your Prime Minister and the President of the European Commission has really resolved the last difficulties in the relationship and allows us to move forward.”
Ms McGuiness went on to say that the political relationship between Britain and the EU has evolved since Rishi Sunak took over at 10 Downing Street.
Mr Sunak reached his Windsor Framework agreement with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen earlier this year in an attempt to settle difficulties with Northern Ireland’s post-Brexit trading arrangements.