Jean-Claude Juncker 'has opened the door' to German MEP's plot to HALT Brexit
EUROPEAN COMMISSION President Jean-Claude Juncker has “opened the door” to Britain remaining in the European Union after meeting with German MEP Hans-Olaf Henkel campaigning for an “exit from Brexit”.
Mr Juncker gave a speech to the European Parliament, telling the British the EU’s hands are “outstretched” to welcome them back into the bloc.
This is a significant change of tone from the Eurocrat, who said “deserters will not be welcomed back with open arms,” during an interview in 2016.
Mr Juncker also warned the UK’s relationship with Brussels would be damaged, when speaking to French newspaper Le Monde prior to the historic referendum.
Speaking in the European Parliament, on Wednesday, Mr Juncker said: “When it comes to Brexit, I am sure that there will be no winners from this situation.
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Awareness has now come to Brussels that the other 27 EU countries will also suffer due to Brexit
“This is a lose-lose situation, it’s a lose-lose situation both for the British and members of the European Union.
“I continue to feel that the exit of Great Britain is a catastrophe.
“It is a defeat that we all have to deal with the consequences of, but the causes of the British decision run much deeper.
“As Mrs May has said the British have never felt entirely comfortable with the European Union so the guilt lies upon many shoulders.
“Mr Tusk said that our hands remain outstretched.
“The British people, the British Government, may wish to find a different way out of the Brexit situation, we’re very much willing to deal with them.”
After emerging from a meeting with Mr Juncker, on Monday night, Hans-Olaf Henkel said the Commission President had finally come round to understand the “severe repercussions” the EU faces if Brexit is allowed to happen.
Mr Henkel told Express.co.uk Mr Juncker feels Brexit is a “personal defeat” to himself and that he is “starting to realise that Brexit has severe repercussions for Europe”.
The German MEP has been campaigning for the UK to be offered a deal in order to protect businesses in Europe, especially German industry, from the effects of Brexit.
He now believes Mr Juncker has “opened the door” to his “A New Deal for Britain” campaign.
Mr Henkel said: “The fact that Juncker has explicitly shared our opinion in the Parliament that the withdrawal of Great Britain from the EU is a lose-lose situation shows that awareness has now come to Brussels that the other 27 EU countries will also suffer due to Brexit.
“Juncker, obviously, in agreement with the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, has now opened the door for the British to an ‘Exit from Brexit’, which is as new as it is gratifying.
“Above all, it is an important sign for the increasing number of British people who still want to prevent their country from leaving the EU.”
