Michel Barnier, chief EU Brexit negotiator: We need to be together in a fragile world

“I don't want to give any lessons to British people, and it's difficult for us to receive lessons from outside, because nobody is able to give lessons to others... But we also have to take into account what happens around us in Europe, Russia and Ukraine, and outside the world in the Middle East. The world is more and more dangerous, unstable and fragile - and in facing this world, we need to be together.”

Katya Adler speaks to Michel Barnier who served as the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, on the 10th anniversary of the highly consequential referendum.

On 23 June 2016, the British public went to the polls to decide its future with the European Union. An unusually high number of people voted, and by 52% to 48%, the decision was to leave the bloc.

Barnier, then a European Commissioner who had served as a minister in a number of French governments, represented the EU at negotiations to help agree the terms of the UK’s departure and future relationship.

It was a long, hard process, with the UK seeing three different prime ministers from 10 Downing Street before formally leaving the Union in January 2020.

Monsieur Barnier reflects on the UK’s decision and how both European and international politics have changed since.

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Presenter: Katya Adler
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(Image: Michel Barnier. Credit: PA.)