Michel Barnier’s erstwhile colleagues in Brussels are lining up to congratulate the political veteran on his return to the heart of European politics.
The accolades have come from the very tip top of the European Union, starting with Ursula von der Leyen herself.
European Commission President toasted the former EU Brexit negotiator’s recent French prime ministerial nomination, stating on social media platform X she wished Barnier “every success in his new mission.”
“I know that Michel Barnier has the interests of Europe and France at heart, as his long experience demonstrates,” she said.
The applause was followed by European Parliament President Roberta Metsola. She stated in an X post that Barnier has previously demonstrated “leadership, vision and method” and that she is “confident” he will make the “best use of his experience and skills as the new French Prime Minister.”
Last on the high-profile roster is European Council President Charles Michel, writing on X that Europe has “benefitted greatly” from Barnier’s “sense of listening, respect and transparency in negotiations.”
Michel said he was looking forward to Barnier “once again” putting his qualities “at the service of France”.
Former commissioners also appeared out of the woodworks to congratulate the 73-year-old political careerist from the conservative Republicans party on his recent appointment by French President Emmanuel Macron.
Why a skilful negotiator was tapped for the role
“I’m very happy about the nomination of Michel Barnier,” former president of the European Commission Jean Claude Juncker told Euronews.
“I appointed him as chief negotiator for Brexit, and during this time I felt his talent to listen and to speak in a comprehensive way to those listening to him. He was very smart, also very well prepared.”
Juncker went on to say that Barnier showed “real talent” as a negotiator during this tumultuous period, in which he was speaking to his British counterparts – prime ministers, parliamentarians and commission officials – several times a week, Juncker said.
“He had a positive idea of the UK and wanted only to get the best out of the negotiations’, said Juncker, who headed the European Commission from 2014 to 2019.
Macron appointed former EU Commissioner Barnier – who previously held the portfolios for Internal Market and Regional Policy – saying he wanted him to create “a unifying government in the service of the country,” according to a statement sent by the Elysee Palace.
However, Macron’s first choices were former Socialist prime minister Bernard Cazeneuve and the centre-right President of the northern French region, Xavier Bertrand, with the right-wing mayor of Cannes, David Lisnard, also in the mix.
But none of these names were seen as likely to pass parliament amid the ever-widening gulf of political ideology in France.
Barnier will ‘bring people together’
However, according to those who worked closely with him during those intense and rancorous days of Brexit, Barnier has the skills to at least try to bridge the divide.
ADVERTISEMENTJuncker said that as French Prime Minister, Barnier will “try to bring people together” from opposing sides of the political spectrum.
“He’s used to negotiating with coalition governments across Europe and he is not from the far right; he’s from the moderate centre-right,” he said.
Asked whether Barnier could manage to temper the deeply entrenched divisions facing France, he said: “Let’s not exaggerate the influence he can have on the situation in France – but he is without a doubt one of the best choices at this time.”
‘Existential moment for the EU’
Meanwhile, Georg Riekeles, Barnier’s diplomatic adviser during Brexit, said the politician’s ability in “steadying the ship” after the shock of Brexit in 2016 was his “stand out’ achievement.”
ADVERTISEMENT‘We don’t think about it now, but one was asking oneself in 2016 whether Brexit was the start of a wider European push for referendums – you had political leaders saying: ‘This is our moment’,” Rikeles said.
“It was seen as an existential moment for the EU.”
The Associate Director at the European Policy Centre said Barnier’s most well-managed achievements from this era was to wrangle the 27 member states and ensure they “stick together”.
There were concerns in Brussels that Brexit could trigger the downfall of the EU, Riekeles said, and the unity that emerged was ” far from a foregone conclusion in 2016.”
ADVERTISEMENT“The question at the time was whether the EU could stay united with one negotiator, or whether big or small member states would go it alone for trying to get the best deal out of it,” he said.
“He made the point there’s no point in being in a union otherwise.”
From the end of the road to back on top
Despite falling flat in an attempt to secure his conservative party’s nomination for president, it looked like Barnier had reached the end of the road in his career in politics.
He is often described as having little or no real profile in France despite being minister for Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Environment and European Affairs.
ADVERTISEMENTAmid the many plaudits from Brussels, notable by its absence is any comment on Barnier’s dramatic shift to the populist right during his ill-fated bid for the French presidency.
He called for a moratorium on immigration and tightening criteria for family reunification, as well as calling for French law to be above European or international law.
Barnier also lamented the prospect of France once again having “legal sovereignty in order to no longer be subject to the judgments” of the Court of Justice of the European Union.
