Macron, May agree on security issues but not Brexit

CAMBERLEY, England — The leaders of Britain and France met Thursday against a military backdrop to pledge closer cooperation on defense, security and borders after Britain leaves the European Union.

But President Emmanuel Macron also delivered a firm message: The U.K. cannot keep coveted access to the European Union for its financial sector after Brexit unless it continues to play by the bloc’s rules once it leaves.

“The choice is on the British side, not on my side,” Macron said at a joint news conference with British Prime Minister Theresa May.

“If you want access to the single market — including the financial services —- be my guest,” he said. “But it means that you need to contribute to the budget and acknowledge European jurisdiction.”

Britain and the EU have yet to hammer out details of their relationship after Brexit, and big differences remain between the two sides.

May said Britain would be leaving the single market but wanted a free-trade deal with the bloc covering both goods and services. She said London would remain a major financial center.

The visit was aimed at strengthening security and intelligence ties between nations that are both neighbors and historic rivals and building goodwill as Britain negotiates its exit from the EU.

The venue, the Sandhurst military academy southwest of London, was selected as a signal that the relationship between western Europe’s two biggest military powers won’t be weakened once the U.K. leaves the EU in March 2019.