Geert Bourgeois concerned about Brexit negotiations: “A no-deal Brexit means a disaster on top of the coronavirus disaster”

“I fear there may be a Brexit disaster on top of the coronavirus disaster.” MEP Geert Bourgeois expressed his concern about the ongoing Brexit negotiations. “We need to take a worst-case scenario into account.”

No reason to be positive

The United Kingdom left the European Union on 1 February, yet both sides are still negotiating a Brexit deal. The deadline is the end of this year, but Geert Bourgeois is not reassured. “Negotiations are not progressing well. Both the EU’s negotiator, Michel Barnier, and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson were ill for a while. A no-deal Brexit has not yet been averted. At the moment, there is no reason to be positive,” said Geert Bourgeois, who still hopes that there will be an agreement or that there will be another extension.

Protecting strategic companies against foreign takeovers

Geert Bourgeois once again addresses the impact of the corona crisis on world trade. According to him, it has decreased by ten per cent. He repeated his plea for less European dependence on other countries. “It’s up to the EU to protect its citizens. We’re too dependent on countries such as China and India for strategic resources like pharmaceuticals and surgical masks.” According to Bourgeois, the European Union must protect not only its citizens, but also its companies. “The EU must protect our companies from the war chests that are now being built up abroad. We must certainly protect our strategic companies against takeovers by foreign companies.”