EU chief attacks nationalists as ‘unpatriotic’ and compares them to alcoholics

‘A top EU official has launched a passionate attack on nationalists and nationalism – arguing that the ideology makes societies “weak” and is unpatriotic.
Frans Timmermans, the first vice president of the European Commission, compared nationalism to alcoholism – arguing that it created a “short period of exaltation followed by a long period of headaches”.
Jean-Claude Junker’s deputy argued that protectionism, the “Siamese twin” of nationalism, could “destroy the internal market and disrupt international trade” – though a Commission spokesperson later denied that he was making a veiled reference to Brexit.
He was speaking in a video recorded to commemorate Black Ribbon Day, which is observed across Europe on 23 August each year to commemorate the victims of totalitarianism.’
Read more: EU chief attacks nationalists as ‘unpatriotic’ and compares them to alcoholics