EU 'too big to intimidate with idle threats' says Welsh first minister

The EU is "too big to intimidate" and Britain should approach the Brexit negotiations "maturely" to secure a good deal for everyone, according to the Welsh first minister, who also called for the UK's devolved assemblies to be given a final say on the deal.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Carwyn Jones said: "We hear idle threats about breaking off security cooperation—I mean, terrorism is an international phenomenon and for us to be saying, apparently, well we won't cooperate with the EU on terrorism is akin to saying, 'If you don't give us what we want we'll throw ourselves off a cliff.' It's been spun that way.

"There's a fundamental battle going on within the Conservative government between people who are pragmatic, who are willing to listen, people who want to talk—we support their position—and people who are nationalists, in effect, and English nationalists at that, who see the world as it was in the 19th century and the world falling at Britain's feet.

"The EU is too big to intimidate. It's far bigger than we are. Let's approach this maturely, as equals, and work out a deal that's good for everybody."

Mr Jones added that he wanted Westminster to "develop a joint negotiating position" with the UK's devolved assemblies who should get a say on whether the final deal is accepted. Wales must have "full and unfettered access" to the single market, he said.

"This is a four-nation country. Wales needs a voice through being able to ratify the final deal," he said. "I come from the perspective of someone who supports the union. I would like to see the union stay together. But I also know that if you push people too far then they will take a certain view."

He added: "That's part of the dynamic that drove Brexit in the first place. I don't see Wales becoming independent as something that would benefit Wales, but I certainly think that if Wales' voice isn't listened to people will become unhappy."

The Prime Minister has said Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland can expect "a significant increase" in their decision-making powers after Brexit.

Last month an attempt to give the devolved assemblies a veto over the Brexit deal was defeated in the House of Commons.

Mr Jones' comments came after Theresa May suffered a series of heavy blows when key planks of her opening negotiation strategy were rejected point-blank by senior European politicians.

German chancellor Angela Merkel publicly dismissed her plan to begin talks on a lucrative trade deal, saying negotiations on Britain’s EU divorce – including a bill potentially hitting €60bn (£50bn) – must come first.

European Parliament negotiator Guy Verhofstadt then brushed off what was described by others as Ms May’s "blatant threat" to withdraw British terror and crime-fighting co-operation in order to extract a good trade deal.

Asked if he thought Ms May was engaged in "blackmail", the European Parliament's co-ordinator for Brexit said: "I try to be a gentleman, so towards a lady I don't even use or think about the word 'blackmail'."

A "veteran Eurocrat" also told the Financial Times that Brussels "holds all the cards across all the dossiers" when it comes to negotiations.