'UK ignorance is harming Brexit' - expert demands Brexiteers 'wise up' about EU Parliament

Agata Gostyńska-Jakubowska, from the Centre for European Reform said: “British ignorance of the EU institutions is harming its own interests. “British ignorance of how they operate is clearly damaging the UK’s chances of success in the negotiations. “The British need to wise up about the EU and its institutions, after all it could make the difference between getting a good deal, a bad deal, or no deal.”

Ms Gostyńska-Jakubowska went on: “For years, Brits have dismissed the European Parliament as little more than a talking-shop “But like it or not, the European Parliament has a key role to play in the future of the UK. “Although it is not formally negotiating the withdrawal agreement it has the power to veto it, as well as any deal on future relations between the EU-27 and Britain.

...“The Commission and its chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, understand the need to keep MEPs in the loop to ensure that Brexit talks go smoothly.” The expert continued to defend the Parliament, that Nigel Farage once described as having the “charisma of a damp rag”, and insisted that it has accomplished “laudable things”.

Gostyńska-Jakubowska declared: “Unfortunately the many good things the European Parliament has done over the years have gone unnoticed and unreported in the UK.

“But the European Parliament has also done laudable things, like fight for better consumer protection and environmental standards.

“The UK should follow suit and engage more with the European Parliament.

“The European Parliament is just one EU institution among many and they all have a role to play in the Brexit negotiations.”

However, Ms Gostyńska-Jakubowska succumbed to the failures of the Parliament by admitting that it has been “power-hungry” in the past and has previously demanded larger EU budgets.

She stated: “True, the European Parliament is far from perfect, it has proven to be power-hungry in the past and it has pushed for larger EU budgets when member states were cutting spending.”