Theresa May and François Hollande have reached a "very clear" agreement to keep Britain's border controls in Calais in a move that dispelled "Project fear" warnings that they could move to Dover after a Brexit, reports The Telegraph.
The two leaders met for the first time in Paris and had what Mrs May described as "excellent" and "open" discussions about the future of the UK outside the union.
Speaking after their meeting, the first of many as the UK seeks to negotiate an exit from the EU, Mr Hollande also struck a positive note as the leaders agreed that border controls in Calais will continue despite Brexit.
It follows warnings during the EU referendum campaign that the controls, which mean people are checked in France before arriving in the UK, would end and Britain would be forced to take sole responsibility for screening and security.
"We are both very clear that the agreement should stay", Mrs May said, while the French President added that the agreement is useful to both countries.
Mr Hollande also said that British people living and working in France can stay "as long as they like", adding that he expects a reciprocal agreement to be reached for French citizens in the UK.
There will also be greater cooperation between the the nations on security and anti-terror measures, the two leaders agreed, as they met in the wake of the attacks in Nice.
However the French President also signaled that the UK faces a stark choice over access to the single market.
He said the UK currently has access because it respects the full freedoms of the EU but if it wants to remain it will have to abide by the full freedoms, they can't be separated.
There is now a choice, he added, remain in the single market and take free movement or have another status that will be subject to negotiation.
Mr Hollande also stuck to his position that Article 50, the formal method of leaving the EU, should begin as soon as possible, despite assurances from Mrs May that it would not start before next year