French President Emmanuel Macron has said the European Union must \u201clearn lessons\u201d from Britain\u2019s decision to leave it.<\/b>
\nBy Associated Press Reporter
November 25 2018 1:55 PM
French President Emmanuel Macron has said the European Union must \u201clearn lessons\u201d from Britain\u2019s decision to leave it.
Speaking from Brussels, Mr Macron said that the exit of a major member state for the first time in the bloc\u2019s history showed \u201cEurope is fragile\u201d and the EU \u201cis not a given\u201d.
The French leader said European leaders have a duty to \u201cprotect it against all those who forget that it is a guarantee of peace, prosperity and security\u201d.
Mr Macron also paid homage to Prime Minister Theresa May for seeking a \u201cpath to durable co-operation\u201d with the EU, while defending UK interests during negotiations.
Twenty-seven EU leaders have endorsed a deal that sets out the terms of Britain\u2019s departure on March 29 and sets a framework for future ties.
Meanwhile, Germany\u2019s Chancellor Angela Merkel described the deal as a \u201cdiplomatic piece of art\u201d.
Mrs Merkel, also speaking in Brussels, said: \u201cIt\u2019s an historic day, which triggers very ambivalent feelings\u2026 it is tragic that the UK is leaving the EU now after 45 years, but we have to, of course, respect the vote of the British people.\u201d
She praised the deal struck \u201cin an extremely difficult situation, in a situation without any precedence because we haven\u2019t had it before that a European country leaves the EU\u201d.
Mrs Merkel said, while the agreement was based on very hard negotiations, it \u201cconsiders both sides\u2019 interest\u201d.
European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said the UK could not hope to negotiate better terms before its departure in March.
He said: \u201cI am totally convinced this is the only deal possible. Those who think that by rejecting the deal that they would have a better deal will be disappointed the first seconds after the rejection.\u201d
Mrs May was in agreement, saying: \u201cThis is the deal that is on the table. It is the best possible deal. It is the only deal.\u201d
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