Over the past week there have been announcements from Michael Gove regarding the provisions for international lorries leaving the UK after December 31st, something which apparently Macron's government sees as abhorrent. The labelling of these announcements as 'intimidation' by Clément Beaune, Macron's Europe Minister, further shows the EU's hypocrisy but more importantly, the reaction displays France's willingness for a deal.
By now we are used to firm words coming from Macron's government, whether it be from a jet ski in the Med or from Mr Beaune. These words are less about lorries but more about loss. Macron knows that there is no good outcome from no deal on fishing for the French fleet. A no deal Brexit would leave them dry in the water; with no right to fish in UK waters at all. We should not forget about the scalloping disputes of 2012 and 2018 where French fishermen showed their tenacity and want to fish freely in the Channel.
Any loss of face for Macron's government in the fishing communities would add to his losses these past few years and he knows this. There have been certain rumblings about a plan to refuse a deal, only to row back on that a few months later so as to portray a fake outcome of winning back the right to fish in UK waters as part of a quota system. Surely Marcon's unbridled need to be liked doesn't come before disruption in both Kent and Calais?
The slight hypocrisy in the room must be pointed out, as explained in another Bruges Group article. The EU has wanted clarity for the past 4 years from the British government regarding Brexit planning, but apparently there's not a want for said clarity to add pressure on them, only on us. This communication from the government is still needed and is a step in the right direction so as to advise UK businesses and the EU on the future of our relationship.
The summit next week and the next few weeks before the October summit will be the crucial time when true intentions are shown, and deals are made. The only question being, who will blink first?