Macron says UK must pay for access to single market after Brexit

French President Emmanuel Macron said Britain would not gain access to EU markets, including lucrative financial services, unless it paid for them.

Speaking at the end of his meeting with UK counterpart Theresa May on Thursday, Macron effectively poured cold water on British hopes that it could protect its vital financial services sector once it left the EU in March 2019.

France is keen to grab a slice of the lucrative market after Brexit and Macron put all diplomatic niceties aside when he reminded May there would be “no differentiated access to financial services”.

“If you want access for financial services, be my guest – but it means you have to contribute to the budget, and accept European jurisdiction. It’s a situation that exists for Norway,” he said.

Financial firms are worried that new trade barriers after Brexit could result in them losing the right to operate throughout the EU from London.

Macron said Britain could opt for a Canada-style arrangement with the EU, which could allow limited access.

“There should be no hypocrisy in this respect, or it would not work and we would destroy the single market,” he warned.