'Brexit frees UK from German occupation!' EFTA campaigner SLAMS Germany's control over EU
BREXIT will deliver the final blow to the "failing" European Union concept and spur other EU member states to seek alternatives to the German-led institution, campaigner Hugo van Randwyck said.
Mr van Randwyck said Brexit will help "liberate" the rest of Europe from "EU-German occupation."
Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, the pro-Brexit activist said: "In the past, Europe has been liberated through allied efforts. Britain’s role in the past 200 years has been to restore democracy and self-government to European countries and to ensure there’s a balance of power in Europe.
"I see this as the liberation of Europe from the EU-German occupation."
Mr van Randwyck also said that Britain could further influence the remaining EU member states by seeking membership of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) to show alternatives to the EU single market.
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The spokesperson for the grassroots campaign EFTA 4 UK continued: "Moving to EFTA would help other countries like Austria, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, The Netherlands, and Ireland also have referendums and switching to EFTA and get a balance of power there.
"I think if we get EFTA in the news, people will start looking at it as an alternative."
The United Kingdom was a co-founder of EFTA – the second biggest European trading bloc after the EU – and was a member until it voted to join the European Union in 1974.
EFTA has well-established trade relations with 24 states and territories in addition to trade agreements with the EU27.
Following the Brexit vote, members of EFTA said they would be open to welcome the UK back into the Association once it concluded Brexit negotiations with Brussels.
I see this as the liberation of Europe from the EU-German occupation
He added that Brexit showed the European Union concept was "a failure" and its institutions already showed signs of decline.
Mr van Randwyck said: "The EU is in decline anyway. The concept is a failure so I feel we need to be strategic in this and not go into an appeasement-type negotiation."
It comes after Icelandic Finance Minister Bjarni Benediktsson said EFTA could help Britain resolve the stalemate over post-Brexit trading relationship with Brussels.
He said: "I would not suggest a solution for other countries but I would be happy to see Britain join EFTA."
Mr Benediktsson said Iceland gets the best of both worlds by being a part of EFTA.
Membership of EFTA requires Iceland to pay into the EU and accept free movement - but in return, the country maintains control over its fishing waters and reaps EU trade benefits.
