French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday that Europe must not remain hostage to the ongoing Brexit process as British Prime Minister Theresa May struggles to persuade a deeply divided parliament to back her Brexit deal after the EU granted her more time, reports FRANCE 24.
“The European project must not remain a prisoner to Brexit,” Macron told reporters on Friday.
Macron also called for unity within Europe that the block has had a needed wake-up call on China, saying, “China plays our divisions.”
“The period of European naiveté is over,” he added, throwing his support behind the Commission’s 2016 procurement directive.
Earlier on Friday, an official in Macron’s office said there would be no further extensions, even to implement the exit: “No, April 12th is the leave date.”
European Commission officials have said that April 12th was “the new March 29th” – the previous exit deadline.
Macron has been the most forthright among EU leaders in wanting to draw a line under Britain’s Brexit crisis quickly to refocus on pushing forward the bloc’s agenda. Some, including Germany, have instead stressed the need to make every effort to ensure a chaotic exit is avoided.
Under Thursday’s deal, May 22nd will be the departure date if the British parliament finally approves next week May’s withdrawal agreement after twice resoundingly rejecting it. If it does not, Britain must present a new plan by April 12th or leave the EU without a treaty.