Michel Barnier: “Polexit,” Anyone?

MICHEL BARNIER, FORMER EUROPEAN UNION CHIEF BREXIT NEGOTIATOR: Good evening, Christiane. And thank you very much for your invitation. Yes, I can share the concern of a large part of the Polish people about what is on stake in Poland in Warsaw, because what will be decided by the Supreme Court in Poland is very serious, rejecting or opposing the European treaty, particularly the first article of the treaty, which is very serious. It is, in my view, much more a political issue and crisis than a legal one. And I think that the moment of truth is not very far. And I think that the European Council, the council of the head of states, will have in a few days or a few weeks if there is no change in Warsaw in Poland to ask the key question to do the Polish government, do you want to remain or not in the E.U.?

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR: Well, they say they do want to remain, so it’s quite interesting to understand what kind of a game they’re playing. In addition, Hungary and the prime minister there, Prime Minister Orban, who’s challenged the E.U. on many issues, backs Poland’s move right now. How much of a threat is this to the E.U.? You said, in a few days, the moment of truth. Do you mean the moment of truth for the E.U. or for those countries?

BARNIER: There is a moment of truth for everyone. If you are willing to stay and to remain in the E.U., we have to respect the principles and values of the E.U., exactly as the Polish government, the Polish people did 17 years ago, when it was the time of the accession in 2004. And they have accepted clearly the totality of the principle, the values and the content of our treaty, so that what is at stake is now just to know if they want to continue to respect our values and our principles, and, in particular, on one point, the independence of the judges.