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Anne-Marie Trevelyan said the British people felt disempowered and far removed from the political process under the European bloc and called for its reform after the UK leaves.

She said the remaining 27 member states should push to reinstate a purely economic framework instead of its current setup.

Speaking during a debate on Brexit on BBC Radio 4s Any Questions? The Berwick-upon-Tweed MP said the EU had deviated from its original function.

It was set up absolutely in the aftermath of war to try and stabilise Europe and try to help those countries, as theyve joined, to become democracies because democracies are the stable governments framework where every citizen is engaged with their leadership, she said.

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I think that the point is that the EU has got too big for its boots, bluntly, and its wanting to create a superstate

Anne-Marie Trevelyan

Why is it that the EU which is not the EEC (European Economic Community), which was what was set up isnt working for the British people? And indeed for many others across those states within Europe who are in the EU.

She then accused the European Union of wanting to create a superstate.

I think that the point is that the EU has got too big for its boots, bluntly, and its wanting to create a superstate, said Ms Trevelyan.

For all oflastyear, this sense of disempowerment for something too far away from us as voters, as citizens of the UK, we felt too far removed from the people who are making decisions about the curvature of bananas and any number of other things.

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She said the EU had a role in developing democracies and preserving an economic community but had lost its way.

The EU has migrated far from that and citizens dont like it, the politician added.

The British have led the way and I really hope that the EU 27, if they feel it works for them more than not, will go backwards towards an economic framework, which is not about an EU telling everybody how to run their countries.

Also speaking on the panel was the editor ofpro-EUnewspaper The New European, Matt Kelly, who insisted the European bloc was established to keep ourselves safe.

He said: The European Union was not established to regulate the curvature of a banana, it was established to regulate our propensity in a very violent continent, to stop killing ourselves and to keep ourselves safe and to develop in harmony as a community of nations.

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'EU too big for its boots!' Tory MP rips 'SUPERSTATE' Eurocrats for 'disempowering' UK - Express.co.uk

There is "no reason" an independent Scotland would not be accepted into the European Union, a key European Commission representative has said.

Jacqueline Minor, the European Commissions head of representation in the UK, said the country would already be aligned with the EU requirements and that is it would be starting from a different point that any other countries applying for the EU membership process.

Speaking on BBC's Good Morning Scotland show, Ms Minor was asked whether an independent Scotland would be able to enter the EU.

"I think, had Scotland achieved independence, there would be no reason why it would not be accepted into the normal accession process, she said.

Although Ms Minor did not say that an independent Scotland would have priority in gaining EU membership, she hinted the process could be made easier

"I think, obviously, there are some things that would facilitate that process, namely that Scotland would at a previous point have been aligned with the European acquis.

"So it would have a familiarity with European processes, it would probably still have on its statute books a fair amount of European rules, which would mean it was starting from a point different from other applicant countries, who normally have to go through the entire process of aligning their rules with European rules, she said.

Her comment came after she previously said if Scotland became independent, it would have to wait in line with other countries such as Montenegro, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina to join the EU, when she wasspeaking ataScottish Parliamentary Journalists Association event.

"Were Scotland to become independent, they would join that list, she said.

She also said it might be easier for Scotland to meet the membership criteria such as democracy, rule of law, anti-corruption and protection of minorities than other candidates.

SNP MSP Stuart McMillan said: "This is an important intervention, which makes clear that, as an existing member of the EU, Scotland would be in a completely different situation from other countries seeking membership.

"There is no 'queue' to join the EU. There is a process, and a country must be in line with the requirements of membership - which Scotland, as a full part of the EU up until this point, already is.

"Theresa May's determination to pursue a Tory hard Brexit is the only risk to Scotland's relationship with Europe, which is crucial for jobs, household incomes and our economy."

In her prior intervention, Ms Minor doubtedScotlands ability to secure a special deal as part of the Brexit negotiations.

"The negotiations will be with the United Kingdom and that means essentially the Westminster Government.

"The first question is will the Westminster Government argue in favour of a differentiated arrangement, and it seems to me that at present they are not suggesting that they will," she said.

The Scottish Government previously said there should be a differentiated Brexit deal since the country had a majority of voters to remain in the EU.

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'No reason' for an independent Scotland not to be accepted into EU, says European Commission representative - The Independent

The US secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, greets Federica Mogherini before their bilateral meeting. Photograph: Planet Pix via Rex/Shutterstock

The EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, has warned the Trump administration not to interfere in European politics, advising it to deal with America first.

Speaking during a two-day visit to Washington, Mogherini did not make specific accusations but said that she sometimes heard voices in the new administration saying the European Union is not necessarily a good idea. Inviting us to dismantle what we have managed to build and which has brought us not only peace, but also economic strength.

Its not for me or another European to speak about domestic political choices or decisions in the US. The same goes with Europe no interference, Mogherini said, speaking at the Atlantic Council thinktank. Maybe America first means also that you have to deal with America first.

Mogherinis tone echoed the increasing alarm in Brussels over the new administrations attitudes. Donald Tusk, the head of the European Council, has listed the new US administration and its worrying declarations as one of the leading global threats to the EU.

Trump has not missed a chance to deride the EU, going out of his way to praise Brexit, and in an interview just before taking office, he depicted the continent as being dominated by Germany and on the brink of collapse.

President Trump believes that dealing bilaterally with different European countries is in US interests, that we could have a stronger relationship with the countries individually, said Ted Malloch, the man tipped to be Donald Trumps nominee as ambassador to the EU. He also accused Europe of blatant anti-Americanism.

The presidents chief strategist, Steve Bannon, gave encouragement and space to the European far right when he ran the Breitbart website, which has announced plans to expand its operations in Europe, much to the alarm of European capitals.

Mogherini stressed that she had not heard any such anti-EU sentiment in her meetings in Washington, which included the secretary of state, Rex Tillerson; the national security adviser, Michael Flynn; and the presidents son-in-law and adviser, Jared Kushner, as well as senators from both parties.

She described all those meetings as good, and said she came away reassured on some issues, including the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, of which Trump is a strident critic and the EU a strong supporter. The administration appears to be backing off its campaign pledge to dismantle the agreement.

She also took the opportunity to remind the administration, which hosted the UK prime minister, Theresa May, as the presidents first foreign guest, and promised her a favourable trade deal, that Britain did not have the right to negotiate independently until it was outside the EU, which was two years away at least.

The strength of the EU and the unity of the EU I believe is more evident today than it was a few months ago. This has to be clearly understood here, Mogherini said. This also means respect for the EU not simply as an institution. It is a union of 28 member states.

Mogherini expressed cautious optimism that Brussels and the new administration in Washington could learn to cooperate on a case-by-case basis.

We believe we are probably entering a time of a more pragmatic and transactional kind of relationship with the United States, Mogherini said.

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EU foreign policy chief tells Trump not to interfere in Europe's politics - The Guardian

Wall Street Journal

In Departure, ECB Officials Stump for the European Union Wall Street Journal The ECB's unelected civil servants are mounting their defense of the EU as Europe's elected leaders are enmeshed in national debates. Britain is preparing to leave the EU, and elections will be held this year in France, Germany, the Netherlands and ... and more »

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In Departure, ECB Officials Stump for the European Union - Wall Street Journal

PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti, Feb 8, CMC Canada is providing CAN$91.2 million (One Canada dollar =US$0.76 cents) in aid to Haiti, the Minister of International Development and La Francophonie,Marie-Claude Bibeau, has announced.

Bibeau, who was here attending Tuesdays inauguration of Jovenel Moise as Haitis 58th President, said that the five year development programme will increase womens access to sexual and reproductive health, protect the rights of child workers, increase access to education and improve womens and childrens access to legal service

Under an initiative of the International Development Research Centre, Canada will also provide young Haitians with much-needed technical skills to enter the workforce and take control of their future.

Canadas support to Haiti and its people reflect the priorities of our development agenda: upholding and uplifting human dignity, empowering women and girls and enhancing the local capacity of government and institutions.

As true partners, we are behind Haitis new government and are eager to work collaboratively to advance our vision together, said Bibeau, who held talks with President Moise.

She said that the head of state had insisted on the importance of social justice and good governance.

He fully recognizes the importance of having competent and integral people at the head of the various public services, she said, adding, it is encouraging, but we remain very cautious in the use of funds and to whom they are given, to ensure that the money goes to where it is intended.

Meanwhile, the European Union has invited president Moise to visit several European institutions.

Executive Director for America of the European Service for External Action (EEAS),Edita Hrda, who represented the EU at the ceremony, said that as a friend and partner of Haiti, the European Union is ready to strengthen its relationship with the new administration in order to accompany Haiti in its economic, social and environmental redeployment.

She presented a letter of congratulations to President Mose that was signed by Presidents Donald Tusk (European Council) and Jean-Claude Juncker (European Commission), as well as an invitation to host a State visit to the European institutions

This letter and invitation also demonstrate the European Unions commitment to relations with the entire Caribbean region.

We also talked about the political priorities of President Jovenel Mose in order to put Haiti back on the right track. The European Union has always supported Haiti and will continue this support. We are willing to strengthen our relationship with the new administration to accompany Haiti in its economic, social and environmental redeployment, she said.

The Executive Director also provided details on the additional Euro 35 million (One Euro =US$1.28 cents) post-Matthew aid the European Union announced earlier this week.

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Canada provides multi-million dollar aid package, European Union invites Moise to visit - Antigua Observer