French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel said they were open, on Wednesday 27 February in Paris, to extending the deadline for negotiations between the United Kingdom and the Twenty-seven on the exit of the United Kingdom from the EU after 29 March, while asking London to justify the reasons for such an extension.
On Brexit, “total unity of purpose”: there will be no renegotiation of the agreement on an orderly British withdrawal, Mr Macron said. “We can consider an extension of the negotiations, if it is justified by new British choices”, he added, stressing the “need for a clear perspective on the objectives pursued.
If the United Kingdom needs more time, we will not say no, but we want an orderly exit from the UK to the EU,” Ms Merkel said.
Spring European Summit. The two leaders discussed the topics on the agenda of the European Council on 21 and 22 March, including the future of the internal market and transatlantic relations.
Mr Macron pointed out in particular that France and Germany would make a joint contribution to strengthen “the defence of European industry against strategic threats”.
This initiative is a response to the European Commission's rejection of the merger between Alstom of France and Siemens of Germany in the rail sector (see EUROPE 12197, 12192). Ms Merkel referred to the need for “changes” in European competition law. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)