EU Presidency slams “eurosceptic” Britain

The head of the rotating EU Presidency has rounded on Britain over its refusal to sign up to new tougher fiscal rules.

Speaking in Strasbourg, the Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk criticised those who have backed David Cameron’s position to stay outside of the deal agreed in Brussels last Friday.

“I’ve heard the self-satisfied comments which say Britain has become an island again, and that the Channel has become larger over the last few days. Sincerely, I don’t understand this satisfaction.”

Tusk also delivered a stern warning to those who think Europe’s future lies in the hands of France and Germany, the biggest powers in the bloc.

“This leadership cannot be the leader of one or two countries, even the most strong ones. It has to be a leadership based on European institutions. If we can’t fufill this task then future generations will curse the crisis and curse us too,” he added.

But Tusk also faces large opposition in his own country to deeper European integration. Last night around 5,000 people protested in Warsaw. The opposition claims Tusk is giving too much power to Brussels.

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