In the UK, Macron calls for "protecting the international order" inherited from 1945

After the royal pomp, the entente cordiale: President Emmanuel Macron called on France and the United Kingdom on Tuesday, July 8, before the British Parliament, to "work together" to protect the world order inherited from 1945, starting with Ukraine, by strengthening ties between London and the European Union.

"The United Kingdom and France must today once again show the world that our alliance can make all the difference," he said on the first day of a three-day state visit, the first by a French president since 2008, to both houses of Parliament in the prestigious and solemn setting of the Palace of Westminster in London.

"Clearly, we must work together to defend effective multilateralism and protect the international order as we forged it after the Second World War," he added, speaking for 30 minutes in English to the rapturous applause of MPs and Lords.

Denouncing the "resurgence of imperial impulses," Emmanuel Macron assured that the Europeans, led by the French and British, "will never abandon Ukraine." "We will fight until the last minute to obtain a ceasefire, to begin negotiations to build this solid and lasting peace, because it is our security and our principles that are at stake in Ukraine," affirmed the President of the Republic.

The head of state will co-chair a meeting of the "coalition of the willing" with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday, which brings together countries committed to strengthening Ukraine's defense capabilities and ultimately building a reassurance force to deter Russia from resuming the offensive once a ceasefire is agreed.

Re-aligning the United Kingdom with Europe is a good way forward, he insisted, stressing that Brexit was "deeply regrettable" but that "we respect it ." He indicated that he "supported Prime Minister Keir Starmer's efforts to restore trust" between London and the EU.

To a long round of applause, he also used English humor. "We love the monarchy, especially when it is not in our country," he said, prompting laughter, while thanking the king for his hospitality and praising the "friendship" between the two peoples.

As a symbol of the bond between the two countries, Emmanuel Macron also announced that France would loan the famous Bayeux Tapestry to the United Kingdom. It will be exhibited at the British Museum between September 2026 and June 2027. In exchange, the British museum, which Emmanuel Macron is due to visit on Wednesday, will loan France pieces including the Sutton Hoo treasure, one of the jewels of its collection.

On the economic front, the Élysée Palace announced on Tuesday that the public energy company EDF would take a 12.5% ​​stake in the future British nuclear power plant at Sizewell C, in eastern England.

On the political front, a bilateral summit on Thursday is expected to strengthen cooperation in defense and the fight against illegal immigration . The President of the Republic has promised "tangible" results on both issues.

On the British side, expectations are high regarding the fight against illegal immigration, following a record number of arrivals via the Channel since January (more than 21,000).