Poland urges rethink of closer EU integration

Poland asked European politicians to reflect upon on how to develop Europe in order to avoid further exits

Poland's foreign minister said on Friday that Britain's vote to leave the EU meant it was time to rethink the old Franco-German model of closer European political integration.

"We have to reconsider the future of European integration" Witold Waszczykowski told the PAP news agency, questioning whether the push for "one political body with centralised authorities" could work.

After negotiating a new relationship between the EU and Britain, "perhaps the EU, the eurocrats, and European politicians will reflect on how to develop Europe in order to avoid further exits."

"It's a day of reflection, a day of serious discussion about whether the direction of change in the EU that was decided many years ago, the Franco-German model, is what Europe wants," he added.

Britain's decision to leave the EU "means a different Europe. We must negotiate a new Europe," said Waszczykowski, whose right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party has long railed against closer political integration with Brussels.

He also warned against the "eurozone's domination of the EU".