The one-year loan of the Bayeux Tapestry from France to the United Kingdom this week provided a striking backdrop to a renewed phase in the Franco-British relationship. On Wednesday 2 September, President Emmanuel Macron, Prime Minister Andy Burnham and King Charles III visited the British Museum to mark the arrival of the nearly 1,000-year-old tapestry, which tells the story of the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.
The symbolic moment coincided with President Macron’s first official visit to the UK since Andy Burnham became Prime Minister, bringing the two leaders together to discuss a range of strategic, security and economic issues at the beginning of the political and business rentrée.
Security cooperation featured prominently in their discussions, including the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the situation in the Middle East. The two leaders agreed that the UK and France would continue preparations for a potential multinational military mission, which could be deployed following a ceasefire.
For businesses, however, the future of UK-EU economic relations remains a key area of discussion. Ahead of an expected UK-EU summit in November, Prime Minister Burnham raised concerns over the EU’s proposed “Made in Europe” agenda, warning that it could create additional challenges for British industry and risk increasing post-Brexit trade tensions.
Downing Street highlighted the importance of finding a way forward that protects shared interests, while Burnham has identified steelmaking and farming as key British sectors to protect as negotiations on the future UK-EU relationship continue.
The discussions underline the increasingly broad scope of the UK-France relationship: from defence and energy security to trade, industrial policy and supply chains. As the autumn political and business agenda gets underway, closer Franco-British cooperation will remain an important factor in shaping the UK’s relationship with Europe.
Photo credit : Number 10
