Macron’s election has been portrayed by some analysts as bad news for U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May. He arrived at his victory rally in Paris on Sunday night to the sound of Ode to Joy, the European Union’s anthem. He once described Brexit as a “crime” and last week said it would be no “walk in the park.”
He has also suggested a Brexit bill for 60 billion euros to 80 billion euros ($66 billion to $88 billion) could be presented to the British, mentioned rethinking customs controls between the U.K. and France and urged bankers to relocate from London to Paris.
Still, Macron’s defeat of the National Front’s Marine Le Pen means the EU will be a more stable negotiating partner for the British to engage with and he has spoken of the importance of maintaining France’s “special relationship” with the U.K.
Security and Defense
“There is a mutual interest in keeping the prosperity that exists, that has been built over the years,” said Pisani-Ferry. Macron also wants to retain “the security and defense relationship which is extremely important in the kind of environment we are in, which is a very dangerous environment.”
Macron will "certainly not" want to punish Britain for its decision, but "he believes that even today Europe is part of the solution to the problems we’re facing, so he is a very committed European," said Pisani-Ferry.
“As grown-ups on both sides we can manage to settle the exit negotiation and to build the relationship,” the adviser said.
May spoke to Macron after his win and “reiterated that the U.K. wants a strong partnership with a secure and prosperous EU once we leave,” according to her office.
/The Bloomberg/
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