EU’s last words to UK before Brexit were ‘goodbye and good riddance’ due to translation error
THE EU’s last words to Britain before Brexit were “goodbye and good riddance” due to a translation error.
Croatian ambassador Irena Andrassy made the hilarious mishap while chairing the UK’s final ever meeting of EU envoys as a member.
reported she made the gaffe to her UK counterpart Tim Barrow in a room filled with other diplomats.
Believing the term to mean “good luck”, Ms Andrassy signed off Britain’s 47 years of membership by declaring “good riddance”.
Despite some fury over Britain walking away from the bloc, those in the room insisted the comment was a mistake and not an insult.
The meeting came just two days before Boris Johnson finally delivered Brexit with Britain leaving at 11pm last Friday.
Now the Prime Minister is racing to deliver a bumper trade deal by the end of the year.
An agreement must be in place by the end of the 11 month-long transition period that expires on December 31 or both sides face punishing trade quotas and tariffs on exports.
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Laying down the gauntlet yesterday, the PM declared: “We have made our choice; we want a comprehensive free trade agreement, similar to Canada’s.
“But in the very unlikely event that we do not succeed, then our trade will have to be based on our existing Withdrawal Agreement with the EU.
“The question is whether we agree a trading relationship with the EU comparable to Canada’s – or more like Australia’s.”
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