Some believe Europe’s hard line on the sequencing of Brexit talks will need to be revised, perhaps as early as October, when new British Prime Minister Theresa May is due to attend her first meeting of European Union leaders in Brussels.
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Anxious about growing euroscepticism at home, France has urged Britain not to draw out its negotiations to leave the European Union although it accepts that formal talks may not begin for several months.
Although Germany only said our “voice will be heard”, Mr Hollande says a “special situation” applies to us.
“We have discussed Le Touquet agreement, and President Hollande and indeed Interior Minister Cazeneuve have both been very clear from their point of view that they wish the Le Touquet agreement to stay”, Mrs May said. “(But), the sooner the better for the common interest”, Hollande told May.
Faced with growing euroscepticism at home, Hollande has taken a harder line since Britain’s seismic June 23 vote to leave the EU.
Hollande has also emphasized that “access to the single market can not be guaranteed unless free movement of workers is respected”.
Hollande said that May’s appointment on July 13 as prime minister had more quickly than expected resolved the question of who would lead the negotiations on Britain’s behalf, leaving little reason to postpone.
He said: “It’s pretty clear to me. that a country outside Europe not accepting free movement will not have access to the single market like an European Union country”.
He said: “There is no doubt that the France people who reside in the United Kingdom will be able to continue to work there and that the British people in France will be able to continue to work there and spend as much time as they wish”.
Francois Hollande today warned Theresa May not to delay triggering Brexit, insisting: “The sooner you go the better”.
The diplomat said Britain could not get a custom-made agreement on its future relations with the EU.
Mr Kenny is pushing for Ireland to hold a “unique position” in the post Brexit vote negotiations, particularly in relation to the border area in the North and the free movement of people.
“The intelligence and security cooperation between our countries is something that will always endure, even after Britain has left the EU”, May said.
May’s visit to Paris follows talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin during her first foreign trip as Britain’s leader.
“In effect, both countries have specific and indeed unique concerns to be addressed in future negotiations”, they said.
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“I have taken the decision to make available artillery means for the Iraqi forces”, Hollande said in a statement after a Defence Council meeting here.
