[ad_1]
Multimedia playback is not supported on your device
French President Emmanuel Macron made a mistake by mistakenly saying that British visitors would need French visas if there was a Brexit without agreement, advisers said.
He had meant that the British would not need visas in such circumstances.
The confusion came as Mr Macron spoke to the media in English at the end of a European summit in Brussels.
Instead of "we will not stop the visas", he meant "we will not start the visas", explained the palace of the Elysee.
British citizens currently want to travel without a visa in the EU, but that could change with Brexit. The United Kingdom must leave the block of 28 countries on March 29, 2019.
Gavin Lee, of the BBC, discussed visa issues with President Macron during Thursday's press conference after leaders failed to make a breakthrough on Brexit.
Lost in translation
By Gavin Lee, BBC News, Brussels
The confusion arose after I asked President Macron whether press reports of British citizens needing work visas or holidays in case of non-agreement were true.
The president's response was "that we will not stop visas, they are false news, as some leaders would say," and he went on to say "we will certainly issue visas for people".
His team has now stated that it was a case of "second language" skid and that President Macron wanted to say "we will not start visas for the British."
The press team of the Elysée Palace said that the French position regarding their emergency plan "without agreement" is in no way a declaration of visas for the British people, EXCEPT that the Kingdom United suddenly imposed it on French workers and tourists.
They say that they would aim for an agreement that allows a "special status" agreement for workers and tourists for both countries, which avoids the need for an "official visa system".
In case of no agreement on Brexit, said Mr Macron, measures would be taken to cover also flights, ferries and companies.
A bill has been tabled in the upper house of the French Parliament that will allow the government to define new rules for the British visiting France after Brexit. The project suggests that they will be treated as visitors to "third country" – a category similar to Americans or Chinese. The preamble to the bill suggests the possibility of imposing visas.
But, in the event of a Brexit without agreement, the bill also gives the government the power to adapt or suspend the need for visas and residence permits for British citizens.
"Willingness to find a solution"
An agreement remains elusive mainly because of conflicts over the future North Irish border. Brexit risks restoring physical controls at the border, which were removed as part of the peace deal in Northern Ireland.
The current Brexit plan provides for a 21-month transition period from the end of March to facilitate the UK's move to a future relationship outside the EU.
British Prime Minister Theresa May said the transition could be extended "by a few months" if necessary. But some Brexit activists reacted angrily to this suggestion.
"I prefer an agreement and I want an agreement, but I will never favor a bad deal," Macron said on Thursday.
"In the event of lack of agreement, our responsibility is to ensure that the life of our people is not affected until now."
Mr Macron described the "dynamic" Brexit negotiations as "positive because the British side is willing to find a solution".
"It is now up to Prime Minister May to propose a solution, but we will not compromise on the key elements of the mandate we have given to [EU negotiator] Michel Barnier ".
The French president also denied that the British prime minister was snubbed late Wednesday, while four European leaders would have a drink on the Grand Place in central Brussels.
He told the BBC that Theresa May had left the summit earlier and she would certainly be invited in the future.
"I'm always happy and open to sharing a drink with the various leaders, so Theresa May will obviously be welcome," he said.
Update of October 19, 2018: our story was changed after the Elysee had explained that Mr. Macron had meant "we will not start visas" for the British, but that he had used by inadvertently the verb "stop".
Source link
