France invites UK to summit on shared policy goals

Topics will include migration, climate, energy, security, the economy, youth, and shared foreign policy goals

Commentators have hailed the new summit as a sign of a ‘thaw’ in relations between France and the UK

Leonid Altman / Shutterstock

Published Friday 27 January 2023 - 17:00 Modified Friday 27 January 2023 - 17:00

President Macron is to host UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on March 10 for the first France-UK summit since 2018.

The UK says topics will include migration, climate, energy, security, the economy, youth, and shared foreign policy goals.

The 2018 summit discussed similar issues, as well as France’s position on the Brexit negotiations.

Theresa May and Mr Macron were photographed at a gastropub and meeting Franco-British community members.

Mr Macron spoke at the time of the “unique history” between the UK and France.

Commentators have hailed the new summit as a sign of a ‘thaw’ in relations, but some suggest the Northern Ireland border problem could cast a cloud if it remains unresolved.

Former UK ambassador to France Peter Ricketts previously told The Connexion that resolving this was key to good future relations.

He said April 10, the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, might be the “real deadline” for this.

Mr Sunak is said to hope to build cooperation on migrants in the Channel. The European coastal agency reports 71,000 irregular migrants crossed in 2022, a rise of 37% on 2021.

King Charles reportedly planning his first state visit to be to Paris

UK-France deal on tackling Channel crossings 'in final stages'

‘France-UK ‘détente’ only possible if Northern Ireland issue resolved’