Michel Barnier Quotes

former Prime Minister of France (2024)

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Michel Bernard Barnier (born 9 January 1951) is a French politician who currently served as Prime Minister of France. He was the European Commission's Head of Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom (UK Task Force/UKTF) from 2019 to 2021. He previously served as Chief Negotiator, Task Force for the Preparation and Conduct of the Negotiations with the United Kingdom under Article 50 TEU (Task Force 50/TF50) from October 2016 to November 2019. He has served in several French cabinet positions including Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries from 2007 to 2009, Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2004 to 2005, Minister of State for European Affairs from 1995 to 1997 and minister of the environment and way of life from 1993 to 1995. He served at European level as European Commissioner for Regional Policy from 1999 to 2004 and European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services from 2010 to 2014. He served as vice president of the European People's Party (EPP) from 2010 to 2015. In August 2021, Barnier announced his candidacy for President of France in the 2022 French presidential election. He ran unsuccessfully for The Republicans' presidential nomination. He was appointed prime minister by Emmanuel Macron on 5 September 2024.

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Alternative Names: Michel Jean Barnier

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Being a member of EU comes with rights and benefits. Third countries (non members as the UK will be after Brexit) can never have the same rights and benefits since they are not subject to the same obligations. The single market and its four freedoms (which includes freedom of movement) are indivisible. Cherry picking is not an option.

The EU is prepared to offer Britain a partnership such as there never has been with any other third country

We are open to work on a permanent customs union should the UK decide to take this path

I'm not hearing any whistling, just the clock ticking.

To be clear: without a [border] backstop, there can be no withdrawal agreement

It is not possible to get freedom for goods without freedom for services, in particular for the movement of people

There are extremely serious consequences of leaving the single market and it hasn't been explained to the British people.

[<nowiki/>Theresay May's plans] would be the end of the single market and the European project

Nothing should put peace at risk

Brexit was not our choice, it is the choice of the UK. Our proposal tries to help the UK in managing the negative fallout of Brexit in Northern Ireland in a way that respects the territorial integrity of the UK.

We must lift the uncertainty caused by Brexit

No deal will be a very bad deal.

We are still not there. There are still several issues which remain unresolved, including that of Ireland, and therefore what I understand is that more time is required to find this comprehensive deal and to reach this decisive progress which we need in order to finalise these negotiations on the orderly exit of the United Kingdom.

It's not about punishment, it is not about revenge. Basically, we are implementing the decision taken by the United Kingdom to leave the European Union, and unravel 43 years of patiently-built relations. I will do all I can to put emotion to one side and stick to the facts, the figures, and the legal basis, and work with the United Kingdom to find an agreement in that frame of mind.

We want EU citizens in Britain to have the same rights as British citizens who live in the EU