Philippe Lamberts: PM Johnson aiming to cause no-deal Brexit 'while not paying political price for it'

This week on Talking Europe, Philippe Lamberts, a Belgian MEP and co-president of the European Greens Group, denounces the British government's strategy on Brexit. "Boris Johnson's strategy is to lead the country to a no-deal Brexit while not paying the political price for it," he told FRANCE 24. "He needs to be able to blame someone else and... shifting blame while trying to look good is basically his way of doing politics," Lamberts added.

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"For the European Union, a no-deal Brexit would be damaging, there is no question about that. But even more damaging would be to tear down the single market, which is one of the foundations of the European Union. This is what the British Conservative Party wants us to do," the top MEP told FRANCE 24's Catherine Nicholson.

Lamberts also shared his thoughts on the EU's handling of undocumented migrants, an issue that's back in the spotlight following deadly fire at an overcrowded refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos.

Finally, he weighed in on the Green New Deal promised by incoming EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen: "We have a soundtrack that sounds good to the ear. We have a cast with some people who seem to be up to the task and some on which I am more doubtful, and then the question is the scenario: will the plot make a Green New Deal happen? And that we have yet to see."

Presented by Catherine Nicholson

Produced by Isabelle Romero, Perrine Desplats and Mathilde Bénézet

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