National borders are 'the worst invention ever', says EC chief Jean-Claude Juncker

'Borders are the worst invention ever made by politicians,' Juncker says, adding more must be done for refugees and their children

Monday 22 August 2016 15:33 BST

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker walks behind flags after a debate in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France

(EPA)

National borders are "the worst invention ever", European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker has claimed.

The comments by Brussels' top official were dismissed by Theresa May, whose spokeswoman said "it is not something that the Prime Minister would agree with".

Mr Juncker's remark comes as nations across Europe have looked to tighten their borders in response to the growing migrant crisis which has threatened to overwhelm some countries.

He made the comments to the European Forum Alpbach, according to its website.

The website said he told the audience: "Borders are the worst invention ever made by politicians", and said solidarity must be given to refugees and their children.

Responding to the comments, Mrs May's official spokeswoman said: "It is not something that the Prime Minister would agree with and, indeed, you have heard the Prime Minister talk about the views that the British people expressed in the referendum.

"The British people think that borders are important, having more control over our borders is important, and that is an issue we need to address."

Mr Juncker also said Brexit was not a pretty moment, and one which the EU must overcome, according to the website's report.

He said: "In the concentration of globalisation and European problems, we must not lose our way."

6 ways Britain leaving the EU will affect you

Show all 6

1/66 ways Britain leaving the EU will affect you

6 ways Britain leaving the EU will affect you

More expensive foreign holidays

The first practical effect of a vote to Leave is that the pound will be worth less abroad, meaning foreign holidays will cost us more

nito100

6 ways Britain leaving the EU will affect you

No immediate change in immigration status

The Prime Minister will have to address other immediate concerns. He is likely to reassure nationals of other EU countries living in the UK that their status is unchanged. That is what the Leave campaign has said, so, even after the Brexit negotiations are complete, those who are already in the UK would be allowed to stay

Getty

6 ways Britain leaving the EU will affect you

Higher inflation

A lower pound means that imports would become more expensive. This is likely to mean the return of inflation – a phenomenon with which many of us are unfamiliar because prices have been stable for so long, rising at no more than about 2 per cent a year. The effect may probably not be particularly noticeable in the first few months. At first price rises would be confined to imported goods – food and clothes being the most obvious – but inflation has a tendency to spread and to gain its own momentum

AFP/Getty Images

6 ways Britain leaving the EU will affect you

Interest rates might rise

The trouble with inflation is that the Bank of England has a legal obligation to keep it as close to 2 per cent a year as possible. If a fall in the pound threatens to push prices up faster than this, the Bank will raise interest rates. This acts against inflation in three ways. First, it makes the pound more attractive, because deposits in pounds will earn higher interest. Second, it reduces demand by putting up the cost of borrowing, and especially by taking larger mortgage payments out of the economy. Third, it makes it more expensive for businesses to borrow to expand output

Getty

6 ways Britain leaving the EU will affect you

Did somebody say recession?

Mr Carney, the Treasury and a range of international economists have warned about this. Many Leave voters appear not to have believed them, or to think that they are exaggerating small, long-term effects. But there is no doubt that the Leave vote is a negative shock to the economy. This is because it changes expectations about the economy’s future performance. Even though Britain is not actually be leaving the EU for at least two years, companies and investors will start to move money out of Britain, or to scale back plans for expansion, because they are less confident about what would happen after 2018

AFP/Getty Images

6 ways Britain leaving the EU will affect you

And we wouldn’t even get our money back

All this will be happening while the Prime Minister, whoever he or she is, is negotiating the terms of our future access to the EU single market. In the meantime, our trade with the EU would be unaffected, except that companies elsewhere in the EU may be less interested in buying from us or selling to us, expecting tariff barriers to go up in two years’ time. Whoever the Chancellor is, he or she may feel the need to bring in a new Budget

Getty Images

It comes as the leaders of Germany, France and Italy - Europe's three biggest countries - meet on Monday to discuss the way forward for the EU in the wake of Britain's historic decision to leave.

German chancellor Angela Merkel, the French president Francois Hollande and Italy's prime minister Matteo Renzi are meeting on the Italian island of Ventotene for talks.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

US EditionChange

Thank you for registering

National borders are 'the worst invention ever', says EC chief Jean-Claude Juncker

'Borders are the worst invention ever made by politicians,' Juncker says, adding more must be done for refugees and their children

Thanks for signing up to the
Brexit and beyond email

6 ways Britain leaving the EU will affect you

6 ways Britain leaving the EU will affect you

More expensive foreign holidays

6 ways Britain leaving the EU will affect you

No immediate change in immigration status

6 ways Britain leaving the EU will affect you

Higher inflation

6 ways Britain leaving the EU will affect you

Interest rates might rise

6 ways Britain leaving the EU will affect you

Did somebody say recession?

6 ways Britain leaving the EU will affect you

And we wouldn’t even get our money back

Join our commenting forum

National borders 'the worst invention ever', says EC chief

Thank you for registering

US EditionChange

Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK

Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight

Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email

Recommended

Join our commenting forum

Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article

Thank you for registering

US EditionChange

Thanks for signing up to the
Brexit and beyond email