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The Maltese prime minister said Brussels was wrong “to laugh in the face of” eurosceptics, which has ultimately give British voters enough reason to quit the political project. Last Tuesday, Mr Muscat declared Brexit was a “disastrous creature” the EU “did nothing to stop” while appearing to take aim at the bloc’s handling of David Cameron’s demands for reform in Brussels before the referendum was held last June. “Our presidency had also to deal with Brexit. This disastrous creature which all of us should have seen coming but none of us acted to stop,” Mr Muscat told an audience in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, which included Jean-Claude Juncker. Malta’s prime minister then reaffirmed his comments speaking to the BBC’s Adam Flemming, where he criticised the EU’s ignorance when it came to ignoring its “disillusioned” members.

GETTY Joseph Muscat blamed Brexit on 'bad attitudes' across Brussels

Saying people who voted for Brexit don’t really know any better – I think that is a really bad attitude Jospeh Muscat

When asked what Brussels could have done to avoid Brexit, Mr Muscat said: “Well, not laugh in the face of people who felt sceptical and disillusioned with what Europe was. “Even in member states, there was a sort of disconnect and social divide, and after the Brexit result not going into the sort of direction saying people who voted for Brexit don’t really know any better – I think that is a really bad attitude to take, the wrong attitude.” Mr Muscat added, while not being “privy” to other member states’ internal conversations he believes they would all welcome Britain back into the EU, if it wanted to reverse Brexit. There appears to be a rumbling of discontent around southern Europe, who are clearly angered by Brussels’ handling of the Brexit negotiations.

Michael Antoniou, director general of Cyprus Employers and Industrialists Federation, demanded the bloc’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier go easy on Britain because many southern European economies rely on British trade. Speaking at a meeting of the European Economic and Social Committee, he challenged Mr Barnier not to punish Britain over Brexit. He said: “We ask that you bear in mind that some member states are more exposed to the British economy than others and that the impact of Brexit will not be uniform across the EU.

Juncker's most cringe-worthy kisses Wed, September 13, 2017 Jean-Claude Juncker's many signs of affection Play slideshow AFP/Getty Images 1 of 19 Jean-Claude Juncker (L) kisses vice-President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans