Not long after her appointment as France’s first female ambassador in London in 2014, Sylvie Bermann kindly invited me round to her palatial residence for a chat about Anglo-French relations. I
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Alastair Campbell has suggested Mr Macron could become the leader of Europe (Image: GETTY)
He said: “Can this be the sort of relationship that proponents of today’s Continental System have in mind? If so, they should reflect on how the story ended.
“Napoleon’s attempt to subordinate the economic interests of the whole of Europe to his political aim of defeating Britain led to massive evasion of the rules. British goods, even in the days of sailing ships and horses and carts, reached the Continent by semi-legal and illegal means, to the great profit of those involved.
“People rebelled against the economic cost, even his own politicians. His great empire eventually fell apart.”
The EU is suffering from a Napoleon complex that will backfire disastrously
Europe is using trade as a weapon, but the result is likely to be the same as the last time this was tried
6 March 2021 • 6:00am
In those far-off days when the debate over Brexit was still raging, its proponents – including the present Prime Minister – were indignantly criticised for making sweeping comparisons with great struggles of the past: the Spanish Armada, the Napoleonic Wars, even 1940. What could be more absurd, said critics, and what more insulting to our European friends and neighbours than to imply that they had imperialistic ambitions?
David Cameron had been confident of victory, said Ms Bermann (Image: GETTY)
Ms Berman crowed: “The EU, as the first trade block, will be important in helping to develop that.
“It seems to me the big continents will shape the new world order and how the UK will make its presence felt as an independent group of countries is not at all clear.
When the referendum was called, then-Prime Minister and Remainer David Cameron assured Ms Bermann he would win comfortably - but she was uneasy.
Referring to a vote the result of which came, like Brexit, as a blow to Brussels, she said: I was never a fan of referendums as they re always unpredictable.