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A letter from Emmanuel Macron to the British people
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alexander koryagin
Feb 5, 2020, 12:40:01 AM2/5/20
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-----Beginning of the citation-----
A letter from Emmanuel Macron to the British people
Saturday February 01 2020, 12.00am GMT, The Times
Dear British friends,
Your country has just left the European Union, after 47 years of life
together.
It is the result of the sovereign decision the British people expressed
in the referendum of June 2016, a democratic choice France has always
respected.
Yet I must also tell you, as an ally and, even more, as a friend and
true European, how deeply sad I am at this departure. And I am thinking,
today, of the millions of Britons - from England, Scotland, Wales and
Northern Ireland - who still feel deeply attached to the European Union.
I am thinking of the hundreds of thousands of French citizens in the UK
and British citizens in France who are wondering about their rights and
their future: I assure them that we will protect them.
I must tell you, too, that this departure is a shock for Europeans. It
is the first time a country has left the European community. The UK was
not there when it took its first steps in 1950, but we owe it so much -
Winston Churchill's historic foresight, for a start. And since 1973,
while our European relationships may at times have been turbulent, the
UK has been a central player in the European project - particularly in
building the single market - a more influential player than the British
have often themselves imagined.
This departure has to be a shock, because there is nothing trivial about
it. We must understand the reasons for it and learn lessons from it. The
rejection of a Europe which political leaders, in the UK and elsewhere,
have too often blamed for all evils, to avoid having to deal with their
own failures - that's one reason. Another is, let's acknowledge this,
the consequence of a Europe seen as not effective enough, not protective
enough, distant from the realities of daily life.
I am convinced therefore that Europe needs new momentum, in a world
where the need for control, security and protection is stronger than
ever. Perhaps you'll tell me it is no longer your problem? I do not
believe that for a minute, because the UK has no interest in a weak
European Union. I fight every day, and will continue to do so, for this
united, sovereign and democratic Europe, whose strength will make our
continent strong.
In this respect, I know the feeling - however you voted in 2016 - that
France was "tough" from the start of the Brexit negotiation. I wanted to
defend the existential principles of the way the European Union
functions: compliance with our rules within the single market, European
unity, and stability in Ireland. These are not bureaucratic
inflexibilities but the very foundations of the European edifice. But
never has France or the French people - or, I think it is fair to say,
any European people - been driven by a desire for revenge or punishment.
It is in this spirit of mutual respect and commitment to the European
Union and with such powerful ties between our two countries that we must
look to the future and build our new relationship.
The British government wishes to move swiftly forward; we are ready for
this. It is in our common interest to define as close and deep a
partnership as possible in defence and security, and in police,
judicial, environmental, scientific and cultural co-operation. At the
same time let me be honest, as I have always been: ease of access to the
European market will depend on the degree to which the European Union's
rules are accepted, because we cannot allow any harmful competition to
develop between us.
More directly, I would like to begin a new chapter between our two
countries, based on the strength of our unrivalled ties. This year we
will celebrate the 80th anniversary of General de Gaulle's June 18
Appeal: the French know what they owe the British, who allowed our
Republic to live. I am coming to London in June to award the city the
Legion d'Honneur, in tribute to the immense courage of a whole country
and people.
Ten years on from the Lancaster House Agreement, we must deepen our
defence, security and intelligence co-operation. I would also like Prime
Minister Boris Johnson and I to draw on history to boldly build new,
ambitious projects, as when the Channel Tunnel finally - physically -
connected our two countries.
Dear British friends, you are leaving the European Union but you are not
leaving Europe. Nor are you becoming detached from France or the
friendship of its people. The Channel has never managed to separate our
destinies; Brexit will not do so, either.
At 11.00 p.m. last night we did not say "goodbye", but an early "good
morning".
Lisez la version originale francaise de cette lettre: thetimes.co.uk
----- The end of the citation -----
A letter from Emmanuel Macron to the British people
Saturday February 01 2020, 12.00am GMT, The Times
Dear British friends,
Your country has just left the European Union, after 47 years of life
together.
It is the result of the sovereign decision the British people expressed
in the referendum of June 2016, a democratic choice France has always
respected.
Yet I must also tell you, as an ally and, even more, as a friend and
true European, how deeply sad I am at this departure. And I am thinking,
today, of the millions of Britons - from England, Scotland, Wales and
Northern Ireland - who still feel deeply attached to the European Union.
I am thinking of the hundreds of thousands of French citizens in the UK
and British citizens in France who are wondering about their rights and
their future: I assure them that we will protect them.
I must tell you, too, that this departure is a shock for Europeans. It
is the first time a country has left the European community. The UK was
not there when it took its first steps in 1950, but we owe it so much -
Winston Churchill's historic foresight, for a start. And since 1973,
while our European relationships may at times have been turbulent, the
UK has been a central player in the European project - particularly in
building the single market - a more influential player than the British
have often themselves imagined.
This departure has to be a shock, because there is nothing trivial about
it. We must understand the reasons for it and learn lessons from it. The
rejection of a Europe which political leaders, in the UK and elsewhere,
have too often blamed for all evils, to avoid having to deal with their
own failures - that's one reason. Another is, let's acknowledge this,
the consequence of a Europe seen as not effective enough, not protective
enough, distant from the realities of daily life.
I am convinced therefore that Europe needs new momentum, in a world
where the need for control, security and protection is stronger than
ever. Perhaps you'll tell me it is no longer your problem? I do not
believe that for a minute, because the UK has no interest in a weak
European Union. I fight every day, and will continue to do so, for this
united, sovereign and democratic Europe, whose strength will make our
continent strong.
In this respect, I know the feeling - however you voted in 2016 - that
France was "tough" from the start of the Brexit negotiation. I wanted to
defend the existential principles of the way the European Union
functions: compliance with our rules within the single market, European
unity, and stability in Ireland. These are not bureaucratic
inflexibilities but the very foundations of the European edifice. But
never has France or the French people - or, I think it is fair to say,
any European people - been driven by a desire for revenge or punishment.
It is in this spirit of mutual respect and commitment to the European
Union and with such powerful ties between our two countries that we must
look to the future and build our new relationship.
The British government wishes to move swiftly forward; we are ready for
this. It is in our common interest to define as close and deep a
partnership as possible in defence and security, and in police,
judicial, environmental, scientific and cultural co-operation. At the
same time let me be honest, as I have always been: ease of access to the
European market will depend on the degree to which the European Union's
rules are accepted, because we cannot allow any harmful competition to
develop between us.
More directly, I would like to begin a new chapter between our two
countries, based on the strength of our unrivalled ties. This year we
will celebrate the 80th anniversary of General de Gaulle's June 18
Appeal: the French know what they owe the British, who allowed our
Republic to live. I am coming to London in June to award the city the
Legion d'Honneur, in tribute to the immense courage of a whole country
and people.
Ten years on from the Lancaster House Agreement, we must deepen our
defence, security and intelligence co-operation. I would also like Prime
Minister Boris Johnson and I to draw on history to boldly build new,
ambitious projects, as when the Channel Tunnel finally - physically -
connected our two countries.
Dear British friends, you are leaving the European Union but you are not
leaving Europe. Nor are you becoming detached from France or the
friendship of its people. The Channel has never managed to separate our
destinies; Brexit will not do so, either.
At 11.00 p.m. last night we did not say "goodbye", but an early "good
morning".
Lisez la version originale francaise de cette lettre: thetimes.co.uk
----- The end of the citation -----
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