‘I am deeply concerned. I am usually quite the optimist but this is probably the first time that I have ever been pessimistic about the future of the European Union. Brexit will feed populism across Europe. And we can hardly expect to bounce back with the heads of State and government that we have today in Europe.’
Françoise Grossetête is a veteran at the European Parliament. The French 69-year-old MEP first took office in Brussels in 1994. For the last two years, she has been the deputy leader of the EPP group, the europhile conservative group in the European Parliament.
Grossetete is not her usual chirpy self, as she gives an account of what it is like being a Member of the European Parliament in the new post-EU referendum era. Mixed emotions were palpable in the chamber on the Tuesday following the referendum, where an extraordinary plenary session was held to debate and vote a resolution to express the Parliament’s position after the leave vote.
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