Guy Verhofstadt highlights the impact Britain’s 2016 EU referendum has on Europe, citing the “Brexitization” of politics on both sides of the Channel. While Brexit has plunged Britain into a shambolic mess, dividing the country into two camps, with both Leavers and Remainers being “emotionally” attached to their cause, the rest of the EU has made a credible stab at pulling itself together. And it has galvanised public support for the European project.

Brexit has polarised Britain. However, the social divisions, class inequalities, generation war, education gap and demographic divide had been swept under the rug by successive Tory governments, and they have just been laid bare by the Brexit vote. What is ironic is that Britain is now “home to one of the largest grassroots pro-EU movements in Europe.” Should Britain leave the EU with or without a deal, the debate about its future relationship with the EU will not go away,

Britain’s young people are the most pro-European generation – open-minded and internationalist. They travel, work, and study abroad to a greater degree than previous generations. They focus more on global issues, such as social justice, climate change and global development. Despite insecurity, they remain optimistic, and see leaving the EU as a fundamental threat to their values and opportunites. They believe the EU helps provide for decent, well-paid jobs, after leaving colleges or universities.

The author says pro-EU sentiments have risen across Europe following Brexit. The Eurosceptic populist party, Sweden Democrats, which had made “significant gains” in Sweden’s general election in September, have backtracked on their call for a “Swexit.” During the campaign, they vowed to take Sweden out of the EU. But they sensed opposition from many Swedes, and they have been routed by “more moderate parties.”

Leader of Italy’s populist party, Matteo Salvini, has often lashed out at the EU. But the controversial interior minister has abandoned his plan of an Italexit. Instead, the right-wing politician pledged to keep Italy inside the EU and change the bloc from within. Seeking to portray himself Europe’s saviour, alongside other European allies like Hungary, Austria and Poland, Salvini claimed that history would be kind to him.

In order to maintain a good relationship with Britain, the author proposes a close but flexible “association agreement” that aims to facilitate cross-border cooperation etc. He urges “centrists, liberals, and democrats” to do “more” than defending the “status quo” if they want to defeat populist parties. To begin with, they must protect public interests by rejecting populists’ policies that revolve mainlay around “their narrow personal and political interests.” Next year’s elections are crucial, because it will offer mainstream parties on the left and right an opportunity to curb the rising influence of far-right populists in the European Parliament.