Face of Nation : Emmanuel Macron is expected to start canvassing EU colleagues to toughen their stance on Britain’s EU membership. The so-called ‘Med7’ countries are being hosted in Valetta for discussions away from the EU’s 21 other members. The leaders of France, Spain, Portugal, Malta, Italy, Greece and Cyprus will all be in attendance for the sixth annual summit.
They will discuss the “common challenges and opportunities for our region,” according to Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.
He added the seven member states would develop “bespoke policies” to feed into future EU decision-making.
The bloc’s “multi-annual financial framework, the EU budget and Brexit are also likely to feature on the agenda,” according to Mr Muscat.
Mr Macron is the most senior leader attending the exclusive gathering, where he could encourage his colleagues to not present the next British prime minister with an opportunity to delay Brexit for a third time.
He is expected to tell EU leaders that the next Tory leader will have a take-it-or-leave-it offer from Brussels, if they decline Britain will be expected to quit the EU without an agreement.
EU diplomats expect the French President to make a stand at next week’s European Council summit in Brussels, Theresa May’s last.
Mr Macron wants his EU colleagues to tell the next prime minister that they must accept Mrs May’s Brexit deal or leave the bloc without an agreement.
But this will set up a likely clash with European Council President Donald Tusk, who wants to take a softer line in the hope that Britain performs a drastic Brexit U-turn.
While Brexit is not on next week’s summit agenda, a feisty discussion will depend on Mr Tusk and Mr Macron.
Mr Macron’s wish for a speedy British exit will have to wait though, with officials insisting a short “technical extension” is likely to be used for no deal preparations.
Britain could remain in the EU until the end of January 2020, while both parties finalise their contingency plans.
Brussels would refuse to hold negotiations with Britain until its formal departure, and only be willing to return to the table once the £39 billion divorce deal is paid, the Irish backstop implemented and citizens’ rights guaranteed.
