Britain to lose if it leaves EU, says French ambassador

CAIRO - 15 December 2017: French Ambassador to Egypt Stephane Romatet said Thursday that populism movements were defeated in his country with the defeat of former French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen in the last elections.

French voters chose President Emmanuel Macron who is a backer of the European Union, Romatet said on the sidelines of a seminar on the future of Europe, which was held at the American University in Cairo.

British Ambassador to Egypt John Casson and a number of politicians and academics were present.

Romatet added Britain will lose a big part of its influence if it leaves the European bloc.

Meanwhile, Casson said the national state has become weaker than before, as governments became unable to use all their authorities because they are scattered through different institutions.

He explained that his country's exit from the EU was to face globalization and immigration because Britain was restricted by its commitment to EU agreements.