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French warn UK: ‘Brexit could be your Waterloo’

On the anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, France's leading daily newspaper Le Monde has taken the chance to tell Britain if it decides to leave the EU it would be as crushing a defeat as Waterloo.

French warn UK: 'Brexit could be your Waterloo'
Thursday marks the 200th anniversary of Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo. Photo: AFP
Two hundred years ago to the day, Napoleon was defeated at the Battle of Waterloo. 
 
The French press have offered fairly light coverage of the bicentenary, perhaps understandable given the ambiguity around Napoleon's legacy, but French daily Le Monde chose the anniversary to send a message across The English Channel.
 
Considered as the country's newspaper of record  Le Monde published an unprecedented English-language editorial on Thursday under the headline “Britain beware, « Brexit » could be your Waterloo!”
 
 
Le Monde said it chose to publish the editorial in the language of Shakespeare to ensure its message was really heard.
 
It explained that after two hundred years, it is time to take a fresh look at what Waterloo actually means.
 
“Defeat does not come easily to a proud nation.
 
“On June 18th, 1815, France did not only lose thousands of its brave soldiers on the gory fields of Belgium. It lost an Emperor, whom the English then took into permanent exile on the desolate island of St Helena; it also lost its dream of hegemony.”
 
The paper then drew on the fact that there has been two centuries of Anglo-French peace, which the paper labelled a “spectacular achievement”.
 
“Never again have we been at war with each other, except on rugby fields,” it wrote.
 
“Inevitable skirmishes have happened, at Fashoda and elsewhere, but from Suez to Libya, for better or worse, the Entente Cordiale has prevailed.”
 
The editorial continued with Le Monde calling on France's British allies “to resist the familiar temptation of splendid isolation”, referring to the fact that British Prime Minister David Cameron will hold an in-out referendum by 2017 to determine whether Britain should remain a member of the EU.
 
Le Monde then took aim at Ukip leader Nigel Farage, urging the Brits to steer clear of the politician and his policies for an exit from the EU.
 
“The country which cornered Napoleon cannot succumb to Nigel Farage. Today, we solemnly say to our friends across the Channel: beware, Brexit could be your Waterloo!” it said.
 
“Messieurs les Anglais, don’t let the sirens of a fake independence pull you away from the continent. Just as in 1815, your future is in Europe.”
 
Read the full editorial here
 

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TRAVEL NEWS

EES: Eurostar could limit services over new biometric passport checks

Eurostar could be forced to cut the number of trains when the EU's new biometric border checks (EES) are rolled out in October, the owner of London's St Pancras International Station has warned.

EES: Eurostar could limit services over new biometric passport checks

HS1, the owner of the station and operator of the high-speed line between London and the Channel tunnel, is the latest body to raise concerns over the impact on travel of the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) checks that are set to come into force in October 2024.

The new system which requires citizens from outside the EU or Schengen area to register before entering the zone would lead to long delays and potential capping of services and passenger numbers, HS1 warned.

The company said it needed nearly 50 new EES kiosks to process passengers but the French government had only proposed 24.

In evidence to the European scrutiny select committee, HS1 wrote: “We are told that the proposed kiosks are ‘optional’ as the process can be delivered at the border, but without about 49 additional kiosks located before the current international zone [at St Pancras] there would be unacceptable passenger delays of many hours and potential capping of services.”

With just 24 kiosks, Eurostar would be unable to process all passengers, particularly at the morning peak, and this could “lead to services having to be capped in terms of passenger numbers”, HS1 warned, adding that simple space restrictions at St Pancras station would make the EES difficult to implement.

The EES will register non-EU travellers who do not require a visa (those with residency permits in EU countries do not need to register but will be affected by delays) each time they cross a border in or out of the Schengen area. It will replace the old system of manual passport-stamping.

It will mean facial scans and fingerprints will have to be taken in front of border guards at the first entry into the Schengen area.

Travel bosses have repeatedly raised the alarm about the possible delays this would cause, especially at the UK-France border, which is used by 11 million passengers each year who head to France and other countries across Europe.

Last week The Local reported warnings by officials that the new checks could lead to 14-hour queues for travellers heading to France.

Sir William Cash, Chair of the European Scrutiny Committee, said: “Queues of more than 14 hours; vehicles backed up along major roads; businesses starved of footfall: this evidence paints an alarming picture of the possible risks surrounding the Entry-Exit System’s implementation.

“Clearly, this policy could have a very serious impact, not only for tourists and travel operators but also for local businesses. I implore decision makers on both sides of the Channel to take note of this evidence.”

READ ALSO: What affect will the EES border system have on travel to France?

The Port of Dover has already been struggling with the increased checks required since Brexit and there are fears the situation could be even worse once the EES starts to operate.

Given the possible impacts, the House of Commons European Scrutiny Committee last year launched an inquiry calling for views by affected entities with deadline for replies on January 12th 2024.

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