Angry scenes in European parliament

Farage Slams The EU 

Parliament: "You're Not 

Laughing Now Are You?"

Zero Hedge,

28 June, 2016

In his first appearance in European Parliament since the Brexit vote, UKIP leader Nigel Farage was greeted with raucous jeers and boos(presumably for enabling The Brits to exercise their democratic right to self-determination). Once EU President Martin Schulz had demanded (ironically) that they listen, Farage began his 'victory' speech by reminding his so-called peers of their laughter when he first suggested UK should leave The EU - "you're not laughing now... are you!"

"..and the reason you're so upset, the reason you're so angry, the reason you're not laughing is simple - you as a political project are in denial"

Other MEPs were vюcal..

.

Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission

"Europe isn't exclusively a cerebral affair. Obviously we have to think but equally when you're sad, it's acceptable to be sad and I am sad after this vote in the UK and I make no secret of it. The British vote has cut off one of our wings, as it were, but we're still flying."

Guy Verhofstadt, leader of the EU Liberal group

"What makes it so hard for me...is the way it succeeded. The absolutely negative campaign. Mr Farage's posters showing refugees like in Nazi propaganda, which he copied at that moment. I never thought it was possible that somebody in this house should do a thing like that."

Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right French National Front

"The British have chosen a route which it was thought was closed for all time and you were some of those who believed it was closed. Those who said 'It's all irreversible, the European Union is irreversible', well, the British people have told you where to get off."

Martina Anderson, MEP for Irish republican party Sinn Fein

"If English votes drag us out of the EU that would be like Britannia waives the rules. There was a democratic vote. We voted to remain. I tell you that the last thing that the people of Ireland need is an EU border with 27 member states stuck right in the middle of it."

Alyn Smith, MEP for the Scottish Green Party

"We will need cool heads and warm hearts but please remember this - Scotland did not let you down. I beg you: do not let Scotland down now."

Juncker Refuses To Speak English In Address To EU Parliament

Zero Hedge,

28 June, 2016

While both Angela Merkel and David Cameron, and perhaps Boris Johnson, have been doing all they can to restore some of the badly burned bridges between the UK and Europe over the past week, the European Commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker, perhaps once again under the influence, is seemingly engaged in a one-man crusade to accelerate and crush any last hope of an amicable UK departure with lingering ties to Europe.

As we reported earlier, Juncker pulled a fast one on the EU parliament when he first said that "we must respect British democracy and the way it has expressed its view," a statement that was greeted by rare applause from the UKIP members present. However, Juncker promptly turned the tables when he said "that's the last time you are applauding here... and to some extent I'm really surprised you are here. You are fighting for the exit. The British people voted in favor of the exit. 

Why are you here?" Juncker continued, breaking from his speech text.

Then, according to a Telegraph correspondent, Juncker added that he has imposed a Presidential Ban on all contact between EU officials and UK officials until Art 50.

But the coup de grace, to use the proper language, came when as AP reported, Juncker decided to refuse speaking in English altogether. In contrast to recent speeches on Britain's future in the European Union, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker didn't speak English Tuesday as he lamented the U.K.'s departure from the bloc.

Juncker's official speech to EU lawmakers was made only in French and German. He did, however, respond to hecklers among the British EU lawmakers in English.

Previously, Juncker has often used the EU's most widely spoken and written language as well, particularly when addressing issues close to British hearts.

It's unclear whether the move was a political message from one of Europe's longest serving leaders, or an act of caution due to criticism he has received for making mistakes in English in the past.

Whatever the motivation, it almost appears that Juncker is doing everything in his power to sabotage any lingering hope of some last minute mending of relations between the EU and the UK.

* * *

Meanwhile, the fate of the UK aside, the blowback inside Europe is growing and now the prime ministers of four central European countries say the European Union needs to be reformed to renew the trust of citizens in its institutions. The prime ministers of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia also said the forthcoming exit negotiations between the EU and Britain must not leave EU members and their businesses in a worse position than Britain and its companies.

They said the EU should focus on economic growth, an increase of prosperity and the development of a common security policy. The four countries form an informal bloc known as the Visegrad Group and released a joint statement ahead of a summit of EU leaders in Brussels Tuesday.

What was left unsaid is that the balance of power has now shifted dramatically, and what was once Merkel's sole domain now sees the periphery as gradually dominating all negotiations thanks to the impromtpy threat of a referendum that any one nation may invoke at a moment's notice. In the aftermath of Brexit, this is a threat that Merkel and Brussels have no choice but to do everything in their power to remedy, even if it means succumbing to every single demand.