We Did Not Say “Goodbye,” But an Early “Good Morning.” – Emmanuel Macron

Brexit actually happened. The UK left the EU It’s as shocking to me as the election of Donald Trump. I never thought either would happen. I counted on the good sense of the British to rise to the occasion and look where that got me? I’m wondering how in God’s green earth people can be so short-sighted.

The Countries of Europe UK Citizens in the EU EU Citizens in the UK Twitter on Brexit and Fance MACRON on Facebook Macron’s Tweet

I shouldn’t care. I’m not British and it doesn’t affect me, except in a positive way, since France is benefitting from the decision. New customs agreements are in order and since the UK needs the EU as their principal customer, that puts the EU at a big advantage. The EU has compensated contributions by the UK to the Common Agricultural Policy for years. Other countries subsidize it, France is one of them, to the tune of 1.4 billion euros (in 2014), so I guess that will save France a whole lot of money it no longer needs to spend. Without the free movement of EU citizens, what happens to the Calais Jungle (a refugee and migrant encampment in the vicinity of Calais) without control between France and the UK? We all know that the financial industry is already moving out of the UK and over to Paris, Dublin, and Frankfurt. HSBC has 5,000 executives in London, but 1,000 will be moving to Paris. It’s not the only one taking this step — 250 foreign banks may be seeking greener pastures. That has to hurt!

You’re going to love this one…30% of the UK’s agricultural workforce is made up of migrant labor, the very people Brexiteers hope to keep out of their country. UK/EU film productions may become a thing of the past and a large majority of the video game developers and publishers depend on one-third of their staff from Europe, and so, they may be heading out of the UK, too. Start-ups are more likely to head toward Europe, too, as long as the British sterling is weak. France is ready, willing, and able to inherit what the UK is about to give up…with open arms.

Meanwhile, Brexiteers remain optimistic, but I don’t really see how they can justify that optimism. Great Britain is about to become “Little England.” Of course, a whole lot of people will disagree with me…about half of England (52% want to leave the EU, compared with 48% who wish to remain). Even Brexiteers can’t argue with the economic facts that this path isn’t a profitable one, but they remain optimistic. Is it foolish optimism? I think so, but what do I know? I’m not British. And in some ways, I should be rooting for it since it’s clear France will benefit from it. Even President Emmanuel Macron, who must see that it’s good for France to inherit the fall-out from the U.K. doesn’t want to see them go. He published a letter (in English) to the British people this past week:

    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 defense and security, and in police, judicial, environmental, scientific, and cultural cooperation. 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 unrivaled ties. This year we will celebrate the 80th anniversary of General de Gaulle’s 18 June 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 Légion d’Honneur, in tribute to the immense courage of a whole country and its people. Ten years on from the Lancaster House Agreement, we must deepen our defense, security, and intelligence cooperation. I would also like Prime Minister Boris Johnson and me 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.

To learn more about what the EU is and does, download this PDF, compliments of the EU.

A la prochaine…

Adrian Leeds
Adrian Leeds Group

 

P.S. Be sure to watch our newest House Hunters International episode on HGTV this coming at 7 p.m. EST Friday!

“Picky Hunting in Nice, France”:

New York newlyweds follow his dream of living abroad by moving to Nice, France. He’s passionate about having a dedicated office where he can teach linguistics, while she’s hoping for peace, quiet and a stove for cooking.

See HGTV for more information.

P.P.S. I’m taping our 41st episode this week! Read all about it in Monday’s Parler Paris Nouvellettre®.