French Money Minister Bruno Le Maire has reinforced his government’s stance that the service perquisites of the European Union cannot be enjoyed by non-members.
Britain’s relationship with the European Fraternity after it exits the bloc on March 29, 2019 remains uncertain, as both Brussels and London try to finalize a divorce deal and a future trading arrangement.
Speaking at the MEDEF Summer University forum in Paris on Wednesday, Le Maire told CNBC’s Joumanna Bercetche that all sides were delighted to avoid a hard Brexit.
He warned, however, that Britain should not envision the best of both worlds.
“You cannot be out of the European construction, out of the European continent, and also benefiting of all the drops of being a full member of the European Union,” Le Maire said.
The British clobber surged against the U.S. dollar on Wednesday after the EU’s chief Brexit interceder indicated that progress has been made in talks.
Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit moderator, said Europe is prepared to offer an unprecedented partnership to the U.K.
“We respect Britain’s red corteges scrupulously. In return, they must respect what we are,” he said on the eve of repeating that the EU’s single market would not be compromised. “Single store means single market… There is no single market a la carte.”