and must stop managing refugees and migrants for the UK, Arnaud Montebourg, a key contender to become the Socialist party’s presidential candidate, has warned.
The flamboyant leftist told the Guardian he saw himself as a French version of Bernie Sanders, the US senator who made a bid to become Democratic presidential candidate on the issue of fighting inequality.
Montebourg, who quit as economy minister two years ago after leading a rebellion against François Hollande’s pro-business stance, is now running in the Socialists’ open primary race to choose a candidate for the French presidential election next spring.
Montebourg told the Guardian that when negotiations begin over the UK’s departure from the European Union, Britain should also be prepared to face discussions over the Le Touquet accords – the deal with France that keeps border checks, and thousands of refugees and migrants, on the French side of the Channel.
Under the bilateral treaty signed in 2003, which is separate from any EU accords, British officials can check passports in France and vice-versa, meaning the British border is effectively in France and migrants and refugees trying to reach Britain have found themselves stuck in a no-man’s land in Calais and along France’s northern coast.
Montebourg’s stance shows the French left is joining politicians on the right in pushing for a renegotiation of the border deal. He said the Le Touquet accords were “part of the points that will have to be discussed” in the coming months.
He said: “Each country has to take its own responsibility, especially if they are no longer in the EU.” He added that it was natural that “while inside the European Union there is a reciprocal solidarity so we can do favours for each other”, but suggested that this would no longer be the case after Brexit and the UK should not assume the Le Touquet accords would remain unchanged.
He described France as “a long-term friend, historical ally and good neighbour” of the UK, but said the “damage” from handling migrants and refugees for Britain had been considerable.
On the Brexit discussions themselves, Montebourg said: “I want to say very clearly that I’m for a moderate position on the negotiations. But once you leave Europe, there have to be consequences. You can’t have your cake and eat it.”
He added: “Our friends in Britain have to choose,” and he said Britain’s exit would have to be firmly fixed, with “no fluidity to their departure”.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...ourg-french-bernie-sanders-plotting-a-shakeup
The flamboyant leftist told the Guardian he saw himself as a French version of Bernie Sanders, the US senator who made a bid to become Democratic presidential candidate on the issue of fighting inequality.
Montebourg, who quit as economy minister two years ago after leading a rebellion against François Hollande’s pro-business stance, is now running in the Socialists’ open primary race to choose a candidate for the French presidential election next spring.
Montebourg told the Guardian that when negotiations begin over the UK’s departure from the European Union, Britain should also be prepared to face discussions over the Le Touquet accords – the deal with France that keeps border checks, and thousands of refugees and migrants, on the French side of the Channel.
Under the bilateral treaty signed in 2003, which is separate from any EU accords, British officials can check passports in France and vice-versa, meaning the British border is effectively in France and migrants and refugees trying to reach Britain have found themselves stuck in a no-man’s land in Calais and along France’s northern coast.
Montebourg’s stance shows the French left is joining politicians on the right in pushing for a renegotiation of the border deal. He said the Le Touquet accords were “part of the points that will have to be discussed” in the coming months.
He said: “Each country has to take its own responsibility, especially if they are no longer in the EU.” He added that it was natural that “while inside the European Union there is a reciprocal solidarity so we can do favours for each other”, but suggested that this would no longer be the case after Brexit and the UK should not assume the Le Touquet accords would remain unchanged.
He described France as “a long-term friend, historical ally and good neighbour” of the UK, but said the “damage” from handling migrants and refugees for Britain had been considerable.
On the Brexit discussions themselves, Montebourg said: “I want to say very clearly that I’m for a moderate position on the negotiations. But once you leave Europe, there have to be consequences. You can’t have your cake and eat it.”
He added: “Our friends in Britain have to choose,” and he said Britain’s exit would have to be firmly fixed, with “no fluidity to their departure”.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...ourg-french-bernie-sanders-plotting-a-shakeup
