The European Union (EU) must stop being nit-picky and intrusive, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said on Sunday as the bloc scrambled to handle the aftermath of Britain’s vote to leave.
The Brexit vote to leave the EU has deepened fears among mainstream politicians across Europe about the rise of eurosceptic, anti-establishment parties, particularly in France, where the far-right National Front is increasingly popular.
“We must put an end to this sad and finicky Europe. Too often it is intrusive on details and desperately absent on what’s essential,” said Mr. Valls.
Mr. Valls insisted that Europe “is not about seeing sovereign states disappear”.
He also said Europe must defend its economic interests better, on trade matters but also on financial, social, environmental and cultural issues. “Europe must be firm,” he said.
