22.08.2019 | Macron: 'I'm the hard boy of EU' - French leader issues Boris with a fresh Brexit warning
Source - The Daily Express
The French President challenged Mr Johnson to deliver a solution to break the Brexit deadlock, insisting it is the UK’s “destiny” to choose how the country leaves the European Union. He said he is ready to respect the “sovereign choice” of the British voters to quit the European Union. He went on to say that Prime Minister must present plans that protect the Good Friday Agreement and the “integrity of the single market” when attempting to replace the Northern Ireland backstop.
He also repeated Angela Merkel’s deadline that work on an alternative solution should be presented by Britain in the next 30 days.
Speaking alongside the Prime Minister, Mr Macron said: “You know my position!
“My position has always been to respect the sovereign choice made by the British people to leave the European Union.
“I regret it. Had I been a British voter I would have made a different choice but I respect democracy and the wishes of the people and therefore believe we now have to implement this choice.
“My position is protecting and strengthening the European project – the single market, our ability to decide and build a more sovereign, stronger European Union.
“This is the reason why I always work so we will never weaken our union in the negotiations by the position we have had to take.”
He added: “I’ve always been described as the hard boy of the group but it is just I’ve always been clear that a choice was made and we cannot just ignore it.
“We will have to implement the decision taken by the British people and I want to be efficient, so this is what I said last spring, I very much want all of us to find a solution but we will not find a new withdrawal agreement within 30 days which will be very different from the current one.”
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