Macron's state visit.

lafergar

Maybe we could play a sort of GN Bingo......Slagging off Starmer, small boats,Mms Macron's outfits.
One point each.

Anything more substantive 2 points?

????

LizzieDrip

FriedGreenTomatoes2

And Starmer wanted us to lock down for longer. I remember that …

Hello FGT

It wasn’t the length of lockdowns per se, as far as I was concerned. It was the not feeling like we were in safe hands - as the French seemed to feel with Macron.

You were fine if you squashed your sombrero and sang happy birthday while you washed your hands.

escaped

True, but Europe, hardly shows itself to think in a joined up way at all.

Sorry, that was to Whitewavemark2 .

Hi everybody! It’s lovely to be back. Thank you for the welcome. I’ve missed you all. 😁

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Hi everybody! It’s lovely to be back. Thank you for the welcome. I’ve missed you all. 😁

😂
We missed you too! Take care!

escaped

True, but Europe, hardly shows itself to think in a joined up way at all.

I wouldn’t entirely agree, there are areas of strength such as agreement over the rule of law, security, intelligence, single market, human rights and other stuff. There is far more that unites them than divides them. However, I think that populist governments are by their nature less likely to cooperate, and tend to bring discord rather than peace.

On paper yes, Whitewavemark2. But I was thinking of covid because it was mentioned above. Every country did their own thing with no agreement. What I'm thinking is, that if the chips were seriously down, would every nation come together for the benefit of all? I hope it's never put to the test.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Hi everybody! It’s lovely to be back. Thank you for the welcome. I’ve missed you all. 😁

Welcome back!

We've missed you too 😀

Welcome back FriedGreenToms, it hasn’t been the same without you

Wow, I had to look twice to check it was them.

Sorry, back to the serious stuff

escaped

On paper yes, Whitewavemark2. But I was thinking of covid because it was mentioned above. Every country did their own thing with no agreement. What I'm thinking is, that if the chips were seriously down, would every nation come together for the benefit of all? I hope it's never put to the test.

But the argument for Brexit was that we had to adhere to everything we were told to do. And yet the pandemic showed that those in the EU were still individual countries able to react in the way that was best for their countries.

Loved the phrase

“Overcoming our pride and prejudice”

That just about sums Brexit up.

Charles liked it too😊

FriedGreenTomatoes2

And Starmer wanted us to lock down for longer. I remember that …

Where have you been? So pleased you are back.

We arrived at our rural gite in Normandy yesterday and the first thing that was mentioned by the elderly owners, was the Macron/King Charles meeting etc.

This visit is doing a lot of good for renewing/reviving the Entente Cordiale.

I hope that the Macrons enjoy their State Visit.

More importantly I hope that the migrant summit between the two countries tomorrow comes up with solutions. I do not want to see anyone else drowning in the channel.

I also think we need to address who is allowed to claim asylum and then bring in their families.

President Macron thinks we offer too many perks and that the UK is more attractive to migrants than other European countries.

Ah yes, the perks.

lafergar

Ah yes, the perks.

?

President Macron thinks we offer too many perks and that the UK is more attractive to migrants than other European countries.

Interesting, GrannyGravy.
Did President Macron specify exactly what he meant by perks?

Calendargirl

I hope the boats issue gets aired.

I did hear a bit where he commented about the illegal crossings………I wonder if he has remembered just how much money the UK are sending to France to fund the policing of French shores……….probably not!

Allira

^President Macron thinks we offer too many perks and that the UK is more attractive to migrants than other European countries.^

Interesting, GrannyGravy.
Did President Macron specify exactly what he meant by perks?

I have just seen this quote on BBC from President Macron, when referring to the migrant boat crossings.

Britain needs to make the UK less appealing

Food for thought!

Maybe Macron touched on this when he said that a third of migrants entering the EU were heading for the UK. The latter obviously appears more attractive and desirable than other European countries.

The one in, one sent back scheme seems flawed to me, because France will want to do the same thing with Italy and Spain, and I can't see Meloni and others accepting that. Italy wants to pass the migrants on through Europe, not have half of them sent back because there's nowhere for them to go from there.

From what I've read Macron has said some good and positive things.

A pity if all this gets obscured on here by migration, which is not a problem created by France. Can't we talk about anything else?

winterwhite

From what I've read Macron has said some good and positive things.

A pity if all this gets obscured on here by migration, which is not a problem created by France. Can't we talk about anything else?

But migration is a big issue, and seeing as they set off to us from France….