French President-elect to Take Tough Stand in Brexit Negotiations

(Baonghean.vn) - On May 8, Mr. Jean Pisani-Ferry, chief economic advisor to French President-elect Emmanuel Macron, said that the new President will show a tough stance during Brexit negotiations, but will not seek to "punish" London.

President-elect Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte thank supporters outside the Louvre Museum, France. Photo: CNN

Speaking in an interview with the BBC, Mr Ferry said: “I don’t think anyone is enthusiastic about a hard Brexit. There is a mutual interest in maintaining the prosperity that has been built up over many years… The same is true for the security and defence relationship, which is incredibly important.”

Asked whether President-elect Macron would seek to force Britain to pay into the EU budget, Mr Pisani-Ferry replied: “Sanctions? Absolutely not. He believes that even today, Europe is part of the solution to the problem we are facing.”

However, adviser Perry, who is expected to play a senior role in the new French government, insisted that new President Macron would remain a formidable opponent in the upcoming Brexit negotiations.

“We have different interests on some aspects of the negotiations, so the negotiations will be difficult and Macron will be tough,” said Mr. Perry. “But because both sides are mature, we can be successful in negotiating and building a relationship.”

Mr Macron has previously called Brexit a “crime” and said Britain needed to continue paying into the EU budget if it wanted access to the European single market.

British businesses have warned of a “hard Brexit”, a scenario that would divide London’s relationship with the European single market and force Britain to seek a trade deal with the EU based on the minimum tariff terms of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Lan Ha

(According to AFP)