Following a speech by President Emmanuel Macron to the UK parliament, his tour continues, outlining a clear agenda for Franco-British relations in the year ahead. But is anyone buying it?
The parliamentary address was followed by remarks at a state banquet at Windsor Castle, where King Charles—in a speech most likely ghostwritten on behalf of Downing Street—set out a list of the global threats facing both countries, notably ‘irregular migration.’ This phrase is now widely used in Brussels circles to avoid stigmatising lawbreakers who commit the crime of illegal migration.
The suggestion to MPs and peers that France and Europe (including the UK) should reduce their “excessive dependence on China and the U.S.,” indicates that he sees European federalism—not the sovereign nation state—as key to problem solving. To Macron, this also applies to the ‘small boat’ migrant crisis, although constructive proposals have yet to appear.
Migration is expected to be high on the agenda when Macron speaks to Keir Starmer in Downing Street later on Wednesday, July 9th, negotiating how best to tackle Channel migration.
This is the first visit to Britain by a French president since 2008. Macron is also the first European Union political leader to tour since Brexit, which highlights how some of his suggestions—not least a ‘youth mobility scheme’ for the under-30s—would help to reverse that momentous decision.
