Europe must heed the warning and reform deeply, says Macron
BREXIT is a “historic warning sign” for Europe that it must reform deeply, Emmanuel Macron, the French president, warned, calling Britain’s official departure from the EU a sad shock but one that would not dent historic ties between the two nations.
In a televised address, aired shortly after meeting Michel Barnier, the EU’S Brexit negotiator, Mr Macron said: “This departure is a shock. It’s a historic warning sign which must be heard by all of Europe and make us reflect.
“For the first time in 70 years, a country is leaving the EU.”
Brexit arose, he said because “we too often turned Europe into a scapegoat of our own problems” but also because “we haven’t changed Europe enough”.
“We need Europe more than ever, let’s be lucid, faced with China and the United States”, he said.
“I would be lying to you this evening if I said the future of our country lies in less Europe, but I’m aware that Europe won’t be able to move forward unless we reform it deeply to make it more sovereign, more democratic, closer to our fellow citizens and simpler.”
The EU requires a clearer “project”, he added, one that makes it more “powerful and efficient” so that “the desire to leave Europe will no longer be the answer to today’s difficulties because I think it is the wrong response”. The
French leader, who has struggled to enact a promise to transform the EU, reiterated claims that the Brexit referen- dum campaign was mendacious, saying: “We must always remember where lies can lead our democracies.”
He sent an upbeat message regarding the “long history between France and Britain, one made of blood, freedom, courage and battles”, adding that he would visit the UK soon and seek the “closest, most solid, most enduring partnership possible”.
However, looking forward, Mr Macron said that, while little would change in the short term, “it won’t be the same as the relationship we have had for several decades”.
“You cannot be both in and out.” France’s interests would come first in the forthcoming negotiations on the future relationship between Britain and the EU, added Mr Macron.
“And in this negotiation, we will remain united, all 27 of us.”