Belgium: Macron wants UK to remain 'extremely close partner' after Brexit

*NO CUTAWAYS AT SOURCE*
SOT, Emmanuel Macron, French President (French): "I want to first of all congratulate [UK Prime Minister] Boris Johnson for his very clear political victory. It is time now for clarity, and I would very much like the withdrawal agreement concluded in October to be ratified as quickly as possible, for an exit on January 31. This has been the constant position held by France, you know it, and in this respect I'm very happy for this moment of clarification. The most important, but also the most difficult in many aspects, is first of all to implement, in the coming weeks and coming months, the content of this agreement with some very technical elements on the relationship with Ireland for example, and many other topics, but also to put in place a future relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom, based on three principles as said this morning. First of all, developing the closest possible relationship in terms of trade, security and defence, especially because the United Kingdom remains in Europe, by our side. The second principle is to guarantee the European Union, this is the reason why we reiterated our trust in the work of the commission, and particularly [EU Chief negotiator] Michel Barnier, who remains our unique negotiator, and this method showed its strength and efficiency. And third principle, to defend our strategic interests, which we will specify in the beginning of February in a negotiation mandate, by being clear on our priorities, especially the conditions of fair competition, fishing, and as I said our cooperation in terms of internal and external security."
SOT, Emmanuel Macron, French President (French): "You have confirmed the choice made about more than three years ago with this general election. But you are not leaving Europe. You remain by our side, and we remain by yours. Our history, our geography, our values link us beyond ups and downs, difficulties or disappointments. And so France in particular is dearly attached to this relationship forged by the fights of a common history."
SOT, Emmanuel Macron, French President (French): "In this European Union of the 27 of tomorrow, indeed France will be the only one to have the nuclear power and to be the only permanent member of the Security Council. It gives us a particular place, legitimacy, responsibility."
SOT, Emmanuel Macron, French President (French): "First of all my wish is that the United Kingdom remains an ally, a friend and an extremely close partner. The condition is that we manage to define the rules of a fair relationship and that we manage to define all the elements of regulatory convergence, and what we call in good French in all these negotiations, the level playing field. Meaning that in the different categories, in the different segments of the market, we have regulations that are compatible and that can entangle. I say it very clearly, if we do not have this regulatory convergence and do not move forward on these topics, we will not be able to conclude an ambitious trade agreement."
SOT, Emmanuel Macron, French President (French): "The [German] Chancellor is right to say that at the same time that they [the UK] are a friend and a partner, they become a competitor, because they are out of the Union. But we don't want them to be am unfair competitor. So that is all the work of the negotiation phase that is coming under the authority of Michel Barnier. My message to the Brits is the most we will be fair reciprocally, the more integrated the relationship will be."
M/S Macron leaving press conference
SCRIPT
French President Emmanuel Macron said he wanted the UK to remain 'an close partner' after leaving the European Union. Macron commented on the results of the UK general election and Brexit during a news conference in Brussels on Friday.
"First of all my wish is that the United Kingdom remains an ally, a friend and an extremely close partner," said Macron, adding that the results confirmed the choice made by the British voters more than three and a half years ago.
"The condition is that we manage to define the rules of a fair relationship," said Macron, before adding that "if we do not have this regulatory convergence and do not move forward on these topics, we will not be able to conclude an ambitious trade agreement," said Macron.
EU leaders have been giving national briefings and interviews after the second day of the European Council meeting in Brussels on Friday.
As part of the two-day summit, they were expected to discuss the EU’s long-term budget as well as Brexit and the preparations for the negotiations on the future of the EU-UK relations.