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Boris Johnson as PM is 'horror scenario', says Juncker EU aide Boris Johnson as PM is 'horror scenario', says Juncker EU aide
(about 1 hour later)
One of the most senior officials in the EU has warned that havingBoris Johnson as British prime minister would be a “horror scenario”. Boris Johnson has faced an extraordinary string of attacks from some of the most senior figures in the EU, one of whom described the prospect of him becoming prime minister as a “horror scenario”.
Tweeting from the G7 summit, Martin Selmayr, who is chief of staff tothe European commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker, lumped Johnson in with France’s Marine Le Pen and the US presidential candidate, Donald Trump. Martin Selmayr, who is chief of staff to the European commission president, Jean Claude Juncker, lumped Johnson in with France’s Marine Le Pen and the US presidential candidate Donald Trump in a provocative tweet.
In a provocative message that could trigger a backlash in Britain, Selmayr said:
#G7 2017 with Trump, Le Pen, Boris Johnson, Beppe Grillo? A horror scenario that shows well why it is worth fighting populism. #withJuncker#G7 2017 with Trump, Le Pen, Boris Johnson, Beppe Grillo? A horror scenario that shows well why it is worth fighting populism. #withJuncker
Earlier Juncker said Johnson was painting an unreal picture of the EU for the British public and should return to Brussels to see whether his claims chime with “reality”. The message, in which Selmayr says “it is worth fighting populism”, has already triggered a backlash among out campaigners in Britain.
He also hinted that if Britain’s highest-profile campaigner were to become prime minister then his discussions with European partners may be strained. The Vote Leave media spokesman Robert Oxley said of the intervention: “Unelected bureaucrat working for unelected bureaucrat speaks.” There was speculation Selmayr’s action might have been coordinated as it landed immediately after criticism from Juncker.
The commission president accused Johnson of painting an unreal picture of the EU for the British public and said he should return to Brussels, where he previously worked as a journalist, to see whether his claims chime with “reality”.
Related: G7 summit: talk turns to Brexit as world leaders meet in Japan – liveRelated: G7 summit: talk turns to Brexit as world leaders meet in Japan – live
The president was responding to a question at a press conference at the G7 summit in Japan about Johnson’s decision to compare the EU’s aims to those of the Adolf Hitler. Juncker also hinted that if Britain’s highest-profile campaigner were to become prime minister then his discussions with European partners may be strained.
“I’m reading in (the) papers that Boris Johnson spent part of his life in Brussels. It’s time for him to come back to Brussels, in order to check in Brussels if everything he’s telling British people is in line with reality,” he said. At the G7 summit in Japan, responding to a question at a press conference about Johnson’s decision to compare the EU’s aims to those of Adolf Hitler, Juncker said: “I’m reading in [the] papers that Boris Johnson spent part of his life in Brussels. It’s time for him to come back to Brussels, in order to check in Brussels if everything he’s telling British people is in line with reality.
“I don’t think so, so he would be welcome in Brussels at any time.”“I don’t think so, so he would be welcome in Brussels at any time.”
Asked whether the European institutions would be able to work with Johnson if he entered Downing street , he replied: “The atmosphere of our talks would be better if Britain is staying in the European Union.” Asked whether the European institutions would be able to work with Johnson if he entered Downing Street, Juncker replied: “The atmosphere of our talks would be better if Britain is staying in the European Union.”
Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, added: “We have to respect every democratic decision, the result of the referendum and possible political consequences of the referendum. But I think it’s quite normal to have normal relations with politicians and at the same time to have your own opinion about their opinions.” Donald Tusk, president of the European council, said: “We have to respect every democratic decision, the result of the referendum and possible political consequences of the referendum. But I think it’s quite normal to have normal relations with politicians and at the same time to have your own opinion about their opinions.”
Speaking in Ise-Shima ahead of the official opening of the summit, Tusk also tackled the migration crisis, saying that Europe had responded first because it was the most affected. The geography meant it was the responsibility of Europe first and foremost. Tusk also tweeted: “G7 needs to be tough in defending common values. Questioned by states outside but also by opponents from within.”
But he called on the “global community to show solidarity” and recognise that it was a “global crisis”. Speaking in Ise-Shima ahead of the official opening of the summit, Tusk brought up the refugee crisis, saying that Europe had responded first because it was the most affected. The geography meant it was the responsibility of Europe first and foremost.
In particular he asked for financial support for the “public good” that countries like Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon were doing in helping refugees, and for help with resettling schemes. But he called on the international community to show solidarity and recognise that it was a “global crisis”.
“Europe is doing a lot and is happy to share its experience, he said. In particular he asked for financial support for the “public good” that countries such as Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon were doing in helping refugees, and for help with resettling schemes.
Meanwhile, Juncker promised that the EU would “step up” its measures to defend the steel industry against dumping. “Europe is doing a lot and is happy to share its experience,” he said.
He said the issue would be part of any decision on granting China “market economy status”, something that Britain had pushed for but which the steel industry has warned could further damage Britain’s ability to compete. On the issue of the global steel crisis, Juncker promised that the EU would step up its measures to defend the industry against Chinese dumping.
“Global overcapacity in the steel sector is of great concern to Europeans. It has cost Europe thousands of jobs since 2008 and the over-capacity in China alone has been estimated at almost double European annual production,” he said. He said the issue would be part of any decision on granting China market economy status, something that Britain had pushed for but which the steel industry has warned could further damage Britain’s ability to compete.
“So we will make it clear that we will step up our trade defence measures. This effort has started and as far as the market economy status for China is concerned, we will discuss this in detail. The European Union has launched an in-depth impact assessment and when this impact assessment is finished, we can deliver in the best way possible. “Global overcapacity in the steel sector is of great concern to Europeans. It has cost Europe thousands of jobs since 2008 and the overcapacity in China alone has been estimated at almost double European annual production,” Juncker said.
“Everyone has to know that if somebody distorts the market, Europe cannot be defenceless.” “So we will make it clear that we will step up our trade defence measures ... Everyone has to know that if somebody distorts the market, Europe cannot be defenceless.”
Asked what advice he would give Mr Cameron in his efforts to preserve steel-making in south Wales, Juncker said: “I think we have a general problem in Europe when it comes to the Chinese over-capacity. This is affecting all our countries. We have 22 steel-producing countries in the European Union and all the countries with steel industries on their territories have the right to defend their industry.” He said overcapacity was not just a problem for the UK, where Tata’s move to sell off British assets put up to 40,000 jobs at risk.
Juncker’s words come after Cameron said he could still offer “no guarantees” about the future of the Port Talbot sites, which is one of a number threatened by Tata’s decision to sell its British assets. David Cameron had said he could offer “no guarantees” about the future of the Port Talbot site, which is one of a number under threat, but he promised the government would do “everything we can”, including raising the issue at the G7.
The Indian company was expected to announce a shortlist of companies bidding to purchase its UK arm after a board meeting on Wednesday but failed to do so. Eighty companies are thought to be in the running. The UK prime minister said it would be discussed alongside counter-terrorism strategies in the Middle East, keeping up pressure on Russia over the Minsk agreement, and the dangers facing the world economy.
It is believed that one option on the table is that Tata would take on investment support offered by the British government and maintain its operations. Although Britain’s EU referendum is not on the formal agenda, Cameron said he planned to discuss it on the margins. “But the G7 and G20 have already made clear that it is a threat to economic growth, a risk to the world economy,” he added.
Cameron said the issue of overcapacity in the steel industry would be on the agenda at the G7 on Thursday in one of a number of sessions planned between world leaders. On Thursday morning, he joined other G7 leaders at Japan’s most sacred shrine at Ise Jingu. They were then escorted to the inner Naiku shrine – an area reserved for Japan’s most distinguished visitors.
On his way to Japan, the prime minister said steel would be discussed alongside counterterrorism strategies in the Middle East, keeping up pressure on Russia over the Minsk agreement and dangers facing the world economy. After a cleansing ceremony with holy water, Cameron planted a Japanese cedar tree with the French president, François Hollande, and the Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, using shovels handed to them by schoolchildren from the Mie prefecture.
Although Britain’s EU referendum is not on the formal agenda, Cameron is expected to discuss it on the margins. All the world leaders have expressed their support for Britain’s continued membership. They then started with working sessions that stretched over lunch, followed by side events on Europe, trade, and counter-terrorism.
“But the G7 and G20 have already made clear that it is a threat to economic growth, a risk to the world economy,” he added.
On Thursday morning, the prime minister joined other G7 leaders at Japan’s most sacred shrine at Ise-Jingu. They were then escorted to the inner Naiku shrine – an area reserved for Japan’s most distinguished visitors.
After a cleansing ceremony with holy water, Cameron planted a Japanese cedar tree with the French president, Francois Hollande, and the Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, using shovels handed to them by schoolchildren from the Mie Prefecture.