Reset of relations possible if UK abides by Brexit deal, Macron tells Johnson at G7 summit

Ever since Britain exited from the European Union, its relations with France have become tense with rising disagreements

In a meeting with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Saturday, French President Emmanuel Macron offered to reset the tense relations between the two countries. However, he wants Johnson to accept the Brexit deal, which would govern relations between the UK and European Union, for the reset to happen. The bilateral meeting took place in the midst of the G7 summit in the UK.

Ever since Britain exited from the European Union, its relations with France(which continues to remain an EU member) have become tense with rising disagreements over the Brexit deal. Macron has criticised Johnson several times for his refusal to abide by the deal agreed upon between UK and EU.

Sources have revealed to Reuters that Macron talked of the common interests the two countries share and emphasised the need to reset the relations. He talked with Johnson in English, the source added.

“The leaders looked forward to deepening the bilateral relationship between the UK and France, through more cultural, economic and security cooperation,” The UK government said in a press release.

Later in the day, Johnson will be meeting another EU member Germany’s, Chancellor Angela Merkel. She is expected to raise the issue of the Northern Ireland Protocol which is a sticking point of the Brexit deal. The protocol proposes to keep the UK’s Northern Ireland province a part of the UK’s customs territory as well as the EU’s single market. However, Johnson’s government calls the proposed arrangement unsustainable.

It may be recalled that Britain had decided, through a referendum, to leave the European Union in 2016.

 

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