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SPIEGEL: Sir Ivan, Brexit is over and there have been no disasters to report. Are you finally calm now?
Rogers: To believe that would be naive. History has an annoying habit of moving on. It did not stop in 1973 when we joined the European Community, nor did it stop in 1992 with the Maastricht Treaty. Sooner or later British politicians will remember that many of our best friends are in the EU. Will that happen in the next 20 years? Probably not. On the other hand: Who would have predicted 30 years ago that a conservative government would one day remove us from the EU?
SPIEGEL: Will the British completely withdraw from Brussels for now?
Rogers: On the contrary. From now on, London will have to do everything it can to influence what goes through the meat grinder in Brussels and Strasbourg. That will not be easy, because after the last few years hardly anyone in the EU wants to show great regard for the British. But for Brexit to be a success, London needs eyes and ears everywhere in the EU. Even if you only see your ex as a competitor, you still need to know exactly what he is doing.
