0:04 Mr.
0:04 Prime Minister, Madame, honorable ministers, Mr.
0:09 Speaker, Lord Speaker, honorable members of Parliament, members of the House of Lords,
0:17 ladies and gentlemen.
0:20 I would like to thank you speaker for your kind words
0:25 and greatly appreciate everyone's warm welcome on behalf of my wife Bridget
0:31 and myself and my whole delegation.
0:33 Thank you very much for that.
0:35 And it is a very great honor to speak before the two houses of
0:39 the British Parliament.
0:42 A place composed of both a high chamber and a low chamber.
0:47 A place of history by gone and history in the making.
0:51 A place where modern democracy emerged
0:54 and the principles of democratic representation
0:57 and consent were born.
1:00 In making its own rules,
1:02 your great people has inspired among the rest of the world
1:07 and in particular my compatriots will regard you with respect with more than a
1:13 bit of admiration.
1:15 In France, Montescu and Rouso drew from the works of Loach to such an
1:22 extent that the letter philosophic by Russo are often referred to
1:25 as letters on the English in my country.
1:31 But please do not misunderstand me.
1:36 I'm not going so far
1:38 as to say that England gave birth to the French Revolution.
1:43 However, I have to confess that we love monarchy,
1:46 but especially when it's not at home.
1:51 But I really believe
1:53 that from the Magna Carta to America's Declaration of Independence in 1776
1:59 and France's declaration of the rights of man
2:02 and citizen in 1789,
2:05 a same pathway emerged towards democratic order and the rule of law.
2:12 And so many times this shared path was forged in the brotherhood of arms.
2:19 So many times it followed the small trails of the Arden
2:22 and the Voj mountains under the hail of German bullets from 1914 to 1918.
2:30 So many times it almost veered off course taken up by our common ancestors
2:35 reconquering the Normandy coast inch by inch under the glaring sun of June 1944.
2:43 And I would like to thank Prime Minister Starmer de for attending the ceremonies
2:49 of the 11th of November last year honoring our fallen soldiers.
2:55 The British red poppy alongside the blue of France becoming the first British head
3:01 of government to spend armisties day in Paris in 80 years.
3:06 Thank you.
3:20 The French people shall never forget the sacrifices British people made to protect Europe
3:25 and the world during the two world wars
3:28 and to uphold with fierce determination the promise of our aunt Cordial.
3:35 We shall never forget the support of the asylum your forefathers gave to the
3:39 free French forces in the fight against the barbarism of the Nazis.
3:46 Sir Winston Churchill was one of the visionaries who had the foresight to help
3:52 forge a strong transatlantic alliance
3:55 and to come up with a peaceful European order in
3:58 which he deeply believed.
4:02 He passed the same vision on to us of a world order based on
4:07 law,
4:08 justice, and respect for territorial integrity.
4:13 An order that is today being attacked on a daily basis
4:16 as we witness direct attacks on our democracies,
4:20 the return of war to our continent, the resurgence of imperial impulses,
4:26 and the floating of international rules by destabilizing powers. who are attempting to divide
4:33 up the world to their advantage.
4:39 Speaker, you and your predecessors have become famous, I have to say,
4:43 even in France for your way of restoring order in the courts with your
4:47 imperial and imperious exclamations,
4:50 order, order.
4:53 And today we wish to join you in shooting out order order with you
4:58 to come the honorests in the world.
5:02 As permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, deeply committed to multilateralism,
5:09 the United Kingdom and France must once again show the world
5:15 that our alliance can make all the difference.
5:20 Clearly, we have to work together in order to defend an efficient multilateralism
5:29 and to protect the international order
5:33 as we fought it after the Second World War.
5:49 and first in supporting Ukraine
5:52 which has been illegally attacked by both rallying the support of Europeans
5:56 and coordinating with the Americans to create the necessary conditions for a robust
6:01 and solid lasting peace.
6:05 I want to commend your country since the first day
6:10 and even before the first day.
6:12 You were part of the closest ally of Ukraine, training the army,
6:18 being here the first day to protect President Zalinski, his government,
6:24 and allowing the forces just to resist
6:28 as you did decades ago with my country.
6:32 And together we worked very hard during the past few years in order to
6:37 stand with the Ukrainian people just helping them to resist.
6:42 We were right and we are right.
6:45 And because every time Vladimir Putin's Russia advances in Ukraine,
6:49 the threat moves closer to us all.
6:52 We will never accept the theory that might is right.
6:55 And I want to be clear.
6:57 This is why together with you, Mr.
6:59 Prime Minister, we decided to launch last February this coalition of the willing mention
7:06 and this coalition was just the signal
7:09 that Europeans will never abandon Ukraine.
7:35 Never. and whatever the decisions could be elsewhere,
7:39 we will fight till the very last minute in order to get the ceasefire,
7:43 in order to start the negotiations to build this robust and sustainable peace.
7:50 Because this is our security
7:52 and our principles together
7:54 which are at stake in Ukraine.
7:57 This is the possibility of a European peace our generation did enjoy during the
8:04 past decade which is at stake in Ukraine nothing less
8:10 and together we will follow up this efforts.
8:14 We have also stood together in calling for the sessation of hostilities
8:17 and path to peace in the Middle East since the spiral of violence began
8:23 after the terrorist attacks by Amas on the 7th of October 2023.
8:29 Together we call for the release of all hostages.
8:34 Together we've called for a ceasefire in Gaza.
8:39 It is a matter of absolute urgency to end the suffering of the hostages
8:45 and of the gathers.
8:47 A war without end
8:49 and without a strategic object objective poses a huge threat to the region
8:54 and our collective security.
8:57 Today a deuminization is occurring there that can never be justified. together.
9:05 We are aware that a political way out is crucial
9:10 and I believe in the future of the two-state solution
9:13 as a basis for a regional security architecture
9:16 which will enable Israel to live in peace
9:19 and security alongside its neighbors.
9:21 But I want to be clear.
9:24 Calling today for a ceasefire in Gaza without any condition is just telling to
9:34 the rest of the world
9:36 that for us as Europeans there is no double standard.
9:40 And as we are attached to human lives,
9:42 as we are attached to territorial integrity, we want this ceasefire, no discussion.
9:50 And today, working together in order to recognize the state of Palestine
9:54 and to initiate this political momentum is the only path to peace
10:15 because since Oslo in 1993,
10:19 With Gaza in Rim and West Bank being on a daily basis attacked,
10:25 the perspective of a Palestinian state has never been put at risk
10:29 as it is.
10:31 And the objective of a recognition is not just making our duty,
10:39 but this is as well reopening a political perspective
10:43 and refusing just an answer based on security.
10:48 And this is why the solution of the two states
10:51 and the recognition of a state of Palestine is
10:55 as well according to me the only way to build peace
11:00 and stability for all in the whole region.
11:05 This approach is in line with our common refusal to tolerate the threat posed
11:09 by an Iran that poses nuclear weapons.
11:13 There again, we know all too well the limitations of solutions based on force
11:19 and the temptation to bring about regime change.
11:22 France, the United Kingdom
11:24 and Germany in coordination with all stakeholders have the duty to bring about a
11:30 stringent negotiation which ensures international monitoring of Iran's nuclear program over the long term,
11:38 thereby preserving the international non-prololiferation framework as a foundation for collective security.
11:46 It is with the same coherence
11:48 and firmness that we must act to defend the world order.
11:53 In Africa, our two countries have had a weighty past,
11:57 which is why we can legitimately send a message of consiliation
12:01 and refusal of spheres of influence,
12:04 of respect for economic and territorial sovereignty. in the Indo-Pacific.
12:10 Our history has made us a watchdog of the freedom of navigation
12:14 and compliance with international law
12:17 which we defend.
12:20 Amid these upheavalss, the alliance between France and the United Kingdom has not faltered.
12:27 It has even become stronger.
12:30 Yes, during the past few years, this alliance became stronger.
12:37 On defense and security,
12:39 the Lancaster House treaties showed
12:41 that we were willing to cooperate on the most sensitive subjects regarding our sovereignty
12:45 and our deterrence.
12:47 When our two countries signed them,
12:49 some clever people found a way to derive savings of resources from them,
12:53 and others even dubbed them the Anton trigal.
12:57 Yet they have successfully provided structure for defense cooperation between our two countries for
13:04 the past 15 years.
13:06 At this bilateral summit,
13:08 we will enter a new stage
13:10 that will scale up this cooperation.
13:13 and our two countries,
13:14 the only European nuclear weapon states, the leading armed forces of the continent,
13:19 together accounting for 40% of European military budgets,
13:23 vote to fully shoulders the responsibility when it comes to European security.
13:29 And we are faced with new threats with aggressive nuclear powers with sometimes hesitating
13:35 alliances and the return of major conflict on our continent.
13:40 This is why in today's our summit is
13:42 so important and the announcement we prepared
13:46 so historical.
13:48 The capabilities identified 15 years ago at Lancaster House must be increased dramatically in
13:54 proportion to the threat.
13:56 Our industrial cooperation must also move to the next level
14:00 and our relation to Europe must change even in the core of sovereignty.
14:05 There is an expectation in Europe that faced with revisionist neighbors,
14:10 our two countries have a special responsibility for the security of the continent.
14:17 And it is time to articulate it.
14:20 And to paraphrase Pete's famous phrase,
14:23 to make sure that not only our two countries will save themselves by their
14:28 own exertions,
14:29 but also that we will save Europe by our example and our solidarity.
14:35 But we will return to this in more detail at the summit on Thursday.
14:39 But very clearly taking the commitment to go to the 3.5 persons on defense
14:44 in the few the years to come.
14:46 It's not just piling money
14:49 but increasing our cooperation altogether reducing our dependencies
14:55 and building a strong European pillar in NATO.
15:00 We have to work together to cooperate
15:02 as we did few years ago in SE common program to increase the cooperation
15:08 of our industries and to make a more independent
15:14 and stronger Europe of defense.
15:18 Second on climate and biodiversity.
15:21 Together we commit to the planet in the face of the new league of
15:24 international reactionaries who deny science
15:26 and facts.
15:28 We also defend with one voice the implementation of our climate ambitions towards carbon
15:33 neutrality,
15:34 phasing out fossil fuels
15:35 and protecting forests which will be core issues of the upcoming COP 30 in
15:40 Berlin.
15:41 We are also acting together to achieve the ratification of the BBNG treaty on
15:46 the protection of oceans.
15:47 Mobilizing mobiliz mobilizing of the private sector reforming the official development assistance system in
15:54 line with the prospect for peoples
15:55 and planet where we work together
15:58 and we worked very actively
16:00 and still work together on biodiversity
16:03 and biodiversity credits.
16:05 The report we commissioned together
16:07 as Franco British during King Charles state visit to France is not just excellent
16:14 but we endorse it
16:16 and we will implement it.
16:18 We will now continue to work together and implement this work.
16:24 Third on migration and I have the feeling to be waited on this issue
16:29 as well in your country.
16:31 Indeed, in this unstable world, hope for a better life elsewhere is legitimate.
16:37 But we cannot allow our country's rules for taking in people to be flouted
16:42 and criminal networks to cynically exploit the hopes of
16:46 so many individuals with
16:48 so little respect for human life.
16:51 France and the United Kingdom have a shared responsibility to address irregular migration with
16:57 humanity,
16:58 solidarity, and firmness.
17:01 The decisions that we will take at our bilateral summit will respond to our
17:05 aims for cooperation and tangible results on these major issues. very clearly we task
17:14 our minister of domestic affairs to work very closely together
17:18 and I want to tell you it's a very close co coordination
17:22 and cooperation but our objective very clearly is to have the best ever cooperation
17:29 between our two countries in order to fix today what is a burden for
17:35 our two countries but let me remind
17:38 as well as we are making this bilateral efforts
17:43 as we are stepping up the level of our cooperation.
17:48 A third of the people entering illegally into the Shenhen area attempt to cross
17:52 the channel.
17:54 And we will only arrive at a lasting
17:56 and effective solution with
17:58 as well the action at the European level
18:02 and the cooperation especially of the countries of first country on the European soil
18:07 by continuing to work with the countries of departure
18:09 and transit of global migration routes
18:13 and as well by addressing pool factors.
18:16 But let's be clear,
18:18 we will deliver together
18:20 because this issues is a clear issue for our two countries.
18:25 Fourth, an economy.
18:28 Our trade has been revived and uh has even surpassed the pre-rexit levels.
18:36 The 3,500 French companies working in the UK remains the second leading foreign employers
18:43 in your country and vice versa.
18:46 And we want to do more.
18:47 And at the occasion of the summit as well, we will deliver additional results,
18:52 additional investment and very strategic investment in the energy
18:56 and space fields where we have long-standing cooperation,
19:01 but where we want to build a new step forward
19:05 and open a new era.
19:08 Since the last time a French president spoke before you in 2008,
19:14 Europe has changed.
19:16 First of all, of course,
19:18 because the sovereign British people choose to leave the European Union in 2016,
19:24 a decision that we respect, even if we found it deeply regrettable.
19:29 I am aware that I am the first European head of state to make
19:33 a state visit since the United Kingdom left the European Union.
19:37 And I take full account of the importance of this moment.
19:43 It took us a few years,
19:45 but we have agreed on the foundations for our new relationship after the withdrawal
19:50 agreement and the trade
19:51 and cooperation agreement reinforced by the Windsor framework.
19:56 And some of us worked very hard on all this text.
20:00 I have great memories.
20:04 I support Prime Minister Starmer's effort as well to restore trust,
20:08 ensure compliance with the agreement concluded
20:11 and strengthen this framework through targeted cooperation in our common interest.
20:16 I welcome the fact that on the 19th of May,
20:20 we were able to define a pragmatic road map between the European Union
20:24 and the United Kingdom on defense,
20:27 energy, climate, and other issues.
20:31 But just as leaving the European Union did not mean the United Kingdom left
20:37 Europe,
20:38 efforts to address the challenges facing all of Europe cannot be limited to the
20:43 European Union alone.
20:46 What is at stake today in Europe is our ability to shoulder the responsibility
20:52 to ensure our continent security ourselves to a greater extent.
20:57 What is at stake today in Europe is our ability to invest in key
21:02 technologies of the future.
21:05 AI, quantum technologies, space, biotech,
21:08 decarbonized energy sources and defense industry
21:12 as I mentioned. in order to avoid strategic dependencies
21:15 and disengagement that would put us at risk
21:21 and especially the risk of a slow death to mention Mario.
21:25 Indeed, we have to derisk our economies
21:30 and our societies first from the risk of the lack of innovation.
21:36 And this is what we experienced during the past decade.
21:39 If we compare our countries with the United States,
21:43 but we will we will have
21:45 as well to derisk our two countries for the excessive dependencies on both the
21:51 US and China.
21:53 I do I do not put a sign equal between China and the US.
21:56 We have a strong ally on one side
21:58 and a challenger sometimes a partner
22:01 when we speak about climate change with China.
22:03 But let's be realistic.
22:07 If the Europeans, if the United Kingdom
22:10 and France do not work together in order to build solid value chain in
22:17 order to reduce our dependencies on these critical areas I'll mention.
22:21 If we still depend on both China and the US,
22:26 I think we have a clear view of our future
22:29 and the future of our children.
22:31 On one side, over capacities
22:34 and over subsidies are clear threats of a fair trade
22:39 and they are destabilizing a lot of value chain
22:41 and creating new dependencies.
22:43 On the other side,
22:45 the trade war is clearly an explicit decision not to be compliant anymore with
22:53 WTO and this dook we loved till now.
23:01 We have no other choice.
23:02 If we want to be listened,
23:04 if we want to build a sustainable future for all children,
23:09 to derisk our our economies and our societies from these dual dependencies,
23:14 we want an open world.
23:16 We want to cooperate but not to depend.
23:19 And each time we depend,
23:20 each time we are not able to stand up
23:23 and decide and agree to disagree,
23:25 this is the beginning of our problem. we are in this situation.
23:30 This is why we have to work very hard together on this technological
23:35 and economic field in order to strengthen our value chains together
23:42 and reduce these dependencies.
23:44 But what is at stake
23:45 as well today in Europe is the defense of democratic models amid foreign interference,
23:51 information manipulation, domination of minds by negative emotions and addictions to social media.
23:58 This is the big other risks.
24:01 It is the same challenge we are facing
24:03 when it comes to digital age restriction online
24:06 and protecting our children from social media
24:08 and screens. an issue brutally brought to the light three months ago by the
24:13 British series adolesence.
24:16 And let's be clear, this is the same type of risk.
24:20 Being vulnerable to algorithm design in the US,
24:27 being vulnerable to algorithm design in China with social networks,
24:33 no not even allowed to the Chinese teenagers that the Chinese teenagers.
24:39 This is being vulnerable to the interferences
24:42 and misinformation coming from Russia
24:44 and other places.
24:46 The strength of our democracies depend on our capacity to create new regulations in
24:54 order to better protect our children
24:56 and our democracies and our democratic debate the relationship with science
25:01 and truth.
25:04 Otherwise, our future will be decided by those who will decide for this algorithm.
25:28 Our two countries are among the oldest sovereign nations in Europe.
25:33 And sovereignty means a lot to both of us.
25:37 And everything I referred to was about sovereignty.
25:42 Deciding for ourself, choosing our technologies, our economy, deciding our diplomacy,
25:47 and deciding the content we want to share
25:50 and the ideas we want to share
25:52 and the controversies we want to share.
25:57 Even so it is not part of the European Union.
25:59 The United Kingdom cannot stay on the sidelines because defense and security, competitiveness, democracy,
26:06 the very core of our identity are connected across Europe
26:10 as a continent and you understand me.
26:16 The point is not to diverge
26:21 and to move forward side by side on these strategic choices we are facing
26:28 to avert the risk of fastment,
26:30 division, weakness.
26:33 A certain idea of Europe
26:36 so dear to George must continue to connect us today.
26:40 And it is also the meaning behind the European political community
26:44 which has shown its ability to bring together the European family across the continent
26:49 of Europe to address the issues of stability,
26:54 security and cooperation between states in concrete terms
27:01 and the United Kingdom is playing a full role at it demonstrated a year
27:06 ago at Blenheim summit.
27:09 I believe that our two countries will continue to be drivers of change,
27:14 drivers of this wider Europe and this meaningful convergence.
27:20 We must be able to count on our economic, academic,
27:25 research and cultural relations to together tackle these sovereign related challenges.
27:31 And I welcome the number of partnerships agreements that our universities, museums,
27:36 research institutions will sign in the margins of this visit.
27:41 They will participate in our respective agenda to re-industrialization
27:45 and strategic independence in key sector from artificial intelligence to culture.
27:52 Our two countries are leaders in Europe when we refer to artificial intelligence.
27:57 But the competition of the US
27:59 and China is fierce
28:00 and Europe on on this point
28:02 as well needs to step up its investment.
28:05 This is why we have to work as well together.
28:10 As a channel tunnel is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.
28:15 Let's make a wish here today.
28:18 Let's not allow the channel to grow wider.
28:23 Although there are 300,000 French people living in the United Kingdom
28:28 and 150,000 British people living in France,
28:33 there has been a decrease in movement in recent years
28:36 when it comes to school,
28:37 university, professional and researcher exchanges.
28:41 And today there is a risk that our societies are growing apart,
28:45 that our young people do not know each other
28:47 as well and may end up strangers at a time
28:51 when international current events remind us on a daily basis of our common future.
28:58 Let's fix it.
29:00 Let's work together in order to facilitate the exchange of students, researchers, intellectuals, artists.
29:09 This is so important.
29:10 Let's allow our children to have the same opportunities
29:15 as the one we had Members of Parliament,
29:41 my lord, tomorrow at the British Museum, we will officially announce an historical exchange.
29:50 In the runup to the 1,000th anniversary of the birth of William the Conqueror,
29:57 France will loan the United Kingdom the bio tapestry.
30:18 I have to say it took probably more years to deliver this project than
30:24 all the Brexit texts
30:27 because we launched it together with Prime Minister Terzameir at
30:30 that time during a not a state visit
30:33 but a summit few years ago
30:35 but at the end of the day we did it
30:39 and the tapestry will be displaced in London
30:42 while the national museums of Ru
30:45 and Kong will receive the certain who treasure on loan
30:49 and I think these mutual loans of these extraordinary national treasures will involve fascinating
30:56 human exchanges which will certainly be positive for our future in terms of culture
31:01 and Let's see this exchange happening between summer 26
31:05 and summer 27 as the beginning of this new era of exchange
31:11 and the reopening of this mutual movements.
31:16 The times of William the Conqueror are over happily
31:21 and the roles of charging cavalry
31:23 as well.
31:24 Our antonant cordial sealed 126 years ago has enabled our countries to bring their
31:31 futures closer to protect Europe's strategic balances
31:34 and to enter into an era of cooperation
31:37 and competition replacing our battlefields with football
31:42 and rubby fields as you mentioned at the invitation of his majesty king Charles
31:49 III whom I should like to thank for his hospitality.
31:54 and his long-standing very special relationship with my country.
32:00 I came here today to renew the French people's message of friendship and fraternity.
32:13 Yes, finally we meet again.
32:17 And let's be sure
32:19 that we will meet again for years
32:22 and decades because we are linked by our geography,
32:29 by our past, but we are linked by our common future.
32:36 And the only way to overcome the challenges we have,
32:39 the challenges of our times will be to go together, hand in hand,
32:47 shoulder tosh shoulder.
32:51 This is our common destiny.
32:55 Long live our friends.
32:56 United Kingdom friendship.
32:58 Long live the United Kingdom.
33:00 Long live France.
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