PARIS: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer received a warm reception from French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Thursday, as part of his effort to strengthen post-Brexit relations with Europe. This visit to Paris follows Starmer’s recent trip to Berlin, where he announced treaty negotiations with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Macron greeted Starmer with a friendly hug, patting his back and shaking his hand, breaking from the usual formal protocol where French presidents stand beside the Republican Guards at the presidential palace.
France, along with Germany, is a key security partner for Britain, with both nations holding permanent seats on the UN Security Council and being Western Europe’s only nuclear-armed powers. Both countries have shown strong support for Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia.
However, the issue of migrant crossings from France to the UK remains contentious. The two countries have long collaborated on security measures to address this issue. Starmer highlighted this challenge in his pre-visit statement, alongside his aim to boost economic growth.
In the first half of the year, migrant arrivals in the UK hit a record high of 13,500, an 18% increase from the previous year. Since January, 25 people have died in overcrowded boats, double the number of fatalities for the entirety of 2023.
While Starmer aims to secure a treaty with Germany by the end of the year, broader EU cooperation might be more challenging. Both Scholz and Macron, as leaders of the traditional Franco-German alliance, are currently facing political difficulties. Scholz leads a fragile three-party coalition that could face setbacks in upcoming regional elections and may struggle to survive next year’s national vote.
Meanwhile, Macron is grappling with a hung parliament following a July snap election and is yet to find a suitable candidate for prime minister. In contrast, Starmer enjoys a strong majority in the UK Parliament.
