Emmanuel Macron Quotes

I have specifically argued that we need to change our relationship with the European Union by fundamentally reforming not just our relationship but the European Union itself.

I believed and hoped that we would be able to secure a deal with Europe which would enable us to amend free movement.

If you wish to have free access to the single market, then you have to accept the fundamental rights as well as obligation that come from it.

Free access to the single market will be granted to a country which accepts the four fundamental freedoms of movement of people, goods, services, and capital.

I strongly suspect that there would be a positive economic advantage to the U.K. in leaving the single market.

Theresa May has made a decision that we want our economic future to remain close to Europe: it's the biggest single market in the world; it's right on our doorstep.

If the U.K. wants a commercial access treaty to the European market, the British must contribute to the European budget like the Norwegians and the Swiss do. If London doesn't want that, then it must be a total exit.

Anything that keeps the U.K. close to the E.U. and best of all, in the E.U., would make me personally very happy.

We need a transitional Brexit deal that provides maximum certainty and stability. Labour will deliver it.

I see us very much at the heart of Europe. We are founding members of the single market; we are founding members of the euro.

Having spent six years as Europe Minister, I am in no doubt about the technical challenge Brexit presents lawmakers.

Very few MPs disagree with the need for a withdrawal bill to enable us to disentangle our 50-year relationship with the legal structures of the European Union and to enable us to function effectively outside of it.

The country is polarised between those who would pursue a hard Brexit, which is where the prime minister is, and Remain.

Labour has repeatedly emphasised that in order to avoid a cliff edge for our economy there will need to be a time-limited transitional period between our exit from the E.U. and the new lasting relationship we build with our European partners.

If the U.K. wants to leave the E.U., we need to stay in the single market.

Membership of the E.U. makes Britain literally ungovernable, in the sense that no administration elected by the people can govern the country.

If the U.K. had new watertight proposals for the border, I don't think anyone in the E.U. would say, 'We don't want to talk about it.'

When we were told Brexit meant taking back powers for Parliament, no one told my constituents this meant the French parliament and the German parliament, not our own.

The treaties of the European Union say that, once a country has decided to leave, then they are excluded from the treaty after two years, unless there is unanimous agreement to extend that period.

Whatever may have been suggested by some Leavers during the referendum it must be clear now that the Brexit process is immensely complicated.

The E.U. must see us prepare for life outside of the E.U. without a deal for them to take us seriously.

The pattern shows that whenever countries try to construct access to the single market... it has required freedom of movement and massive contributions to the E.U. budget, and no role in any decision making processes that frame the rules.

It's difficult to see how the U.K. can be a member of the E.U. if it's not adherent to the principles set out in the convention.

Brexit is not ideal. I'm famously not a Brexit negotiator, but relations between Ireland and the U.K. have been getting stronger, and a big part of that has been trade and feeling like sister countries within the E.U. I don't think it will affect the 'vibe' of relations, but it will have a significant effect on trade and business.

Having campaigned to remain in the E.U., I voted to trigger Article 50, in response to the clearly expressed wish of the electorate. It must now be my duty as an MP to try to ensure that Brexit is as smooth as possible and that there is a sound legislative framework in place to bring this about. A chaotic departure is in no-one's interest.