Liz Truss has stated that Emmanuel Macron is a good friend of Britain, having declared throughout the summer season that "the jury's out" on whether or not the French president was a good friend or foe.
"I work very, very intently with President Macron and the French authorities and what we’re speaking about is how the UK and France can work extra intently collectively to construct extra nuclear energy stations and to make it possible for each nations have vitality safety sooner or later," the British prime minister instructed reporters in Prague, the place she has been attending the first summit of the European Political Neighborhood.
When requested whether or not the French chief was a good friend, she replied: "He's a good friend."
"We’re each very clear the foe is Vladimir Putin, who has by his appalling warfare in Ukraine threatened freedom and democracy in Europe and pushed up vitality costs," Truss went on.
Macron stated he was glad Truss had joined different European leaders. "It is excellent to have Liz Truss in Prague," he stated at a information convention after the summit of EU and non-EU nations.
"That is an island, however this island did not transfer from the continent," Macron stated of post-Brexit Britain. "I actually hope that is the start of the day after."
The 2 leaders held a bilateral assembly in Prague, and issued a joint assertion agreeing to proceed supporting Ukraine in opposition to Russia, work collectively on vitality technique, unlawful migration and different issues. Additionally they resolved to carry the following UK-France Summit in France in 2023.
In direction of the finish of August, Liz Truss — then overseas secretary and concerned within the run-off to change into Conservative Occasion chief and thus the nation's new prime minister — ruffled diplomatic feathers together with her reply to a query at a marketing campaign occasion.
"Emmanuel Macron, good friend or foe?" she was requested.
"The jury's out," she replied, to laughter and applause from the viewers of Tory get together sympathisers. "But when I change into prime minister I'll decide him on deeds not phrases."
The backdrop was strained relations between France, exacerbated by Brexit and its fallout, in addition to clashes over different points equivalent to fishing rights, migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats, and passport checks at borders.
Of their joint assertion, Macron and Truss "agreed to deepen cooperation on unlawful migration throughout the bounds of worldwide legislation, to deal with prison teams trafficking individuals throughout Europe, ending in harmful journeys throughout the Channel".
"Inside Ministers ought to conclude an bold bundle of measures this autumn. Leaders agreed to bolster cooperation with close to neighbours, together with by an early assembly of the Calais group," it added.
The dedication to work inside worldwide legislation and with neighbouring nations shall be famous by critics of the stance taken by the British authorities below Truss' predecessor Boris Johnson.
Final November France disinvited the then Dwelling Secretary (inside minister) Priti Patel from a migrant disaster summit additionally involving Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany —after Johnson pre-empted the assembly by posting a letter on social media suggesting options the French had already rejected.
The 2 leaders have very completely different views on the European Union, and Truss was accused of taking part in to the gallery of her get together's supporters together with her "jury's out" remarks. As soon as a pro-European get together, Britain's Conservatives have since undergone a large eurosceptic transformation. Within the wake of Brexit, EU fans have been largely purged.
Truss' feedback had been seen as severe nevertheless, provided that France and the UK are NATO allies, and Europe and the West have been striving to behave in unity defending Ukraine in opposition to Russia's warfare.
The Labour opposition accused her of a "woeful" lack of judgement, whereas two former Conservative ministers stated she had dedicated a "desperately severe error".
President Macron responded on the time by saying that the UK was "a pleasant, robust and allied nation, no matter its leaders or the small errors they will make in statements from the rostrum".
Since Liz Truss grew to become prime minister, the British authorities has proven indicators of wanting to construct bridges with each France and the EU as a complete. She and Macron met on the United Nations Basic Meeting in mid-September.
On Tuesday, the brand new British Overseas Secretary James Cleverly stated he had "little doubt" that the UK would work "brilliantly intently" with France, regardless of the recurring friction between the 2 nations.
European leaders gathered in Prague on Thursday for the inaugural assembly of the European Political Neighborhood — an initiative of the French president — to debate the continent's challenges, with leaders insisting on widespread values.
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