Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said he does not fully understand the decision of former British Prime Minister David Cameron to organize a referendum on the country's exit from the EU in 2016.
Points of attention
- Donald Tusk criticized former British Prime Minister David Cameron's decision to hold a referendum on Brexit, labeling it as one of the biggest mistakes in the history of the European Union.
- The Polish government emphasizes that the UK is not just a member of the EU but a significant source of the values and principles of a united Europe.
- Tusk expressed regret over the consequences of Brexit and highlighted Cameron's overconfidence in winning the referendum, leading to a decision with far-reaching implications.
Tusk called Brexit a mistake for Britain
Tusk recalled that at that time he was the President of the European Council.
I believe this is one of the biggest mistakes in our (common European — ed.) history. And today, in my opinion, it is much more obvious.
Donald Tusk
Prime Minister of Poland
According to the Polish government official, the United Kingdom is not only a part, but also the source of the values and principles of a united Europe.
When we here in Poland were talking about our future membership in the EU in the early 1990s, one of the strongest arguments in favor of Poland joining the EU was the fact that the United Kingdom was part of it.
According to the Polish Prime Minister, he continues to respect Cameron, but still cannot understand how he could so frivolously risk the fate of his own state.
I'm not going to blame anyone, because it was a self-decision of your citizens. But Cameron was very frank with me. He was absolutely certain that he would win the referendum, and it was one of the biggest mistakes in our history to hold a referendum with the illusion that he would win, when the reason for it was very small.
Britain left the European Union on the night of February 1, 2020.
In July 2023, according to a survey conducted by the YouGov Institute, a record number of Britons — 57% — called Brexit the wrong choice.
