France and Brexit

The Franco-British bilateral relationship did not cushion the UK from the discomforts of Brexit. On the contrary, France was an active participant in a process that erased many of the certainties built up in that relationship during the years of shared EU membership. The chapter explores the meaning of Brexit for France and the significance of Brexit for the FBBR. It identifies key milestones and factors, including the intersection between Franco-British relations and the multilateral EU; of France's own membership of the EU, with its contradictions and flashpoints; and of domestic French politics. The chapter concludes that the net impact of Brexit on the Franco-British relationship itself is likely to be significant, the UK's exit from the EU having dealt a blow to cross-Channel certainties that will take time and political will to address. Where claims to or desires for French leadership of the EU are concerned, the picture is less distinct.