Last Friday, French President Emmanuel Macron met with Theresa May at his summer residence in Bormes-Les-Mimosas. These talks were informal (Michel Barnier is and remains Chief Negotiator for the European Union), though it suggests a change in May’s strategy by holding one-on-one meetings with various national leaders of the EU27. This is a direct consequence of David Davis’ resignation and her decision to play a more prominent role in the negotiations. It is believed that holding such meetings would give her the opportunity to explain the rationale behind her Chequers plan and identify whether there is any room for manoeuvre to find a sensible agreement that works for all parties before 29 March.
What can one expect from last week’s meeting? Not much. Will this make any difference in shaping France’s position on Brexit? Probably not. Here are five reasons why.