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LONDON — Michel Barnier was once the bane of Britain’s hardcore Eurosceptics — and they’re not exactly thrilled about his return to frontline politics.
The EU’s former Brexit negotiator was on Thursday nominated by Emmanuel Macron as French prime minister in an attempt to break months of political deadlock in the country.
The shock pick has already raised concerns among some high-profile Brexiteers about the effect it will have on the U.K.’s relations with both France and the EU.
Barnier was renowned as a tough and savvy negotiator for the EU during Britain’s tortured exit from the bloc. He’s on record as believing Brexit was a grave, historical error.
He often frustrated negotiating partners as fractious talks on a Brexit withdrawal deal and then an U.K—EU trade deal dragged on for years.
Brexiteer Nigel Farage, who leads the Reform UK party, told POLITICO that Barnier’s appointment, which still needs to be confirmed by France’s parliament, would help newly-elected Prime Minister Keir Starmer move Britain closer to the EU.
“An EU fanatic as French prime minister would, sadly, suit the Labour government,” Farage said.
Starmer wants to sign deals with the EU on areas including security and defense, while also renegotiating the U.K.’s Brexit deals to reduce red tape for Brititish businesses.
It’s all a part of the prime minister’s planned “reset” with Brussels, which critics claim is a part of a long-term ploy to get the U.K. to rejoin the EU eventually — a charge the U.K. government denies.
There are also fears Barnier’s influence could sour U.K—French relations, after he spent years sparring against Britain’s top politicians.
But there was grudging respect from some quarters. Jacob Rees-Mogg, former Tory Cabinet minister and arch-Brexiteer, said Barnier was “no friend of the U.K.”
“But he is a capable political operator,” he added.
Closer with EU?
While Barnier will have enough on his plate in a country gripped by political crisis, Brexiteer fears he would want to pull the U.K. closer to the EU may not completely unfounded.
The presumptive French PM has said on numerous occasions that he would like to see a closer U.K—EU relationship post-Brexit.
He told POLITICO last year that the U.K. and EU should sign a security and defense treaty and search for other areas of cooperation.
He also called Brexit “nonsense” and a “lose-lose game” for the U.K. and the EU.
However, Barnier is also firmly of the belief that Britain cannot pick and choose EU benefits and must move closer to the trading bloc, on areas like regulatory alignment, to enjoy a closer economic relationship.
Former Tory MP Bill Cash said Starmer “is a loose cannon on the European issue” and predicted that the new prime minister would “be able to work with Barnier — but not in the [British] national interest.”
“If Macron wants that and I think he will, he wants Britain closer to the EU, that’s what Barnier will do,” he said.
Sébastien Maillard, an associate fellow at the Chatham House foreign policy think tank, pointed out that Barnier’s main concerns in his new role would be of a more domestic nature.
“I believe the relationship between the U.K. and EU or U.K. and France will mainly remain under Macron’s area of competency,” he said.
However, Maillard added that Barnier’s previous roles as a European commissioner and then Brexit negotiatior may lead him to take a greater interest in foreign policy.
“He will be welcoming in the change of tone and attitude [from Starmer’s government toward Europe] and will think there is room for a better relationship regarding security and defense … and perhaps migration,” he said.
The relationship will get its first big test in the coming months: the next Anglo-French summit, set for next year in London.
