You're listening to a podcast from the BBC World Service. This is Hard Talk with me, Stephen Sacker.

Thanks for downloading this edition of the programme. I do hope you enjoy it.

Welcome to Hard Talk on the BBC World Service with me, Stephen Sacker. My guest today is an

influential newcomer in the European Parliament. Natalieisot is a French diplomat turned politician,

who is a close ally of President Emmanuel Macron and was France's Minister for Europe,

before winning a seat in the European Parliament for Mr Macron's en-march party.

Ms Lois-O is already very familiar with the issue that promises

to dominate the next few weeks in both London and Brussels, namely the protracted, torturous, and

uncertain politics of Brexit. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is committed to taking

Britain out of the EU by the end of October,

but the British Parliament has done its best to thwart him by passing a law,

requiring him to seek a deadline extension rather than make a no-deal exit.

And what will the EU 27 do in response to this British melodrama?

Well, Natalie Lois-ot joins me now from Brussels.

Welcome to Hard Talk. Hello. I want to pick you up on something you said yesterday, in fact. You talked of a Brexit madness.

How would you characterize this madness?

Who exactly is mad?

Well, first and foremost, I would say that even if we respect the decision of the British people,

we'll still regret it very much. Because at a moment in in history where there is a need for unity,

where we have big powers throughout the globe, which are not always supporting of our priorities,

the choice of being more isolated and weaker than what the UK is right now is difficult to understand.

And if I was a British citizen, I would certainly ask myself, is it exactly what we wanted that is going to happen?

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