Emmanuel Macron had warned the European Union (EU) would “crumble” if countries did not support his controversial overhaul, sparking furious protests from Poland.
Warsaw’s foreign minister Witold Waszczykowski has hit out at France this lunchtime, accusing the country of failing to understand the country.
Speaking at a joint press conference with his Romanian and Turkish counterparts, Mr Waszczykowski said: “Poland is not being isolated.
“We are hosting an important meeting today so President Macron is not following carefully the news, doesn’t know what is happening in this part of Europe. But this happens sometimes.”
And this lunchtime Bulgaria also waded into the row, urging France to end its controversial calls for labour regulations across the bloc to be overhauled.
The country’s prime minister Boyko Borissov today said “open confrontation” between EU member states is “damaging”.
He said Poland and Hungary, who frequently clash with France and Germany, are “not only our friends but part of the EU”.
And Mr Borissov said rather than threaten Poland, France should “listen to all sides and find a solution”.
It followed an earlier ferocious outburst by Mr Waszczykowski this morning.
He mocked Mr Macron and accused the French president of only pushing for labour reforms because his economy was trailing Poland’s.
Mr Waszczykowski said: “The French economy is not at the moment able to compete with the vibrant economies of many European countries, including Poland.
“This is because French workers have enormous social benefits. The working week for many French workers is four, five working days.”
Mr Macron has infuriated other EU states by attempting to give his ailing economy a shot in the arm by overhauling the bloc’s cheap labour rule.
Under current legislation, firms are able to send temporary workers from low-wage countries to richer nations without having to pay their local social charges.
However, the French president is demanding changes are made and is using fears about the possible collapse of the Brussels bloc to scare EU members into backing his proposals.
Mr Waszczykowski said: “Consequently, instead of compelling the French economy to compete with other countries’ economies, President Macron has devised a way to limit our ability to operate in the common European market.”