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When/if it comes to it, I doubt if France would single-handedly veto a decision voted by all the other member states. This is just a reminder that it has that power. Good cop/ bad cop...

(FWIW, the French media aren't talking about this at all. Just about Le Drian going to Russia with Parly, the Defence Minister.)

Things are going to slide, slide in all directions
Won't be nothing
Nothing you can measure anymore
L. Cohen

by john_evans (john(dot)evans(dot)et(at)gmail(dot)com) on Mon Sep 9th, 2019 at 06:53:33 AM EST
France declaring that they will veto any new Brexit extensions is a well loved tradition by this point.
by generic on Mon Sep 9th, 2019 at 07:13:17 AM EST
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It's nice not to be taken for granted and useful to remind others that you retain discretion and sovereign powers in respect to certain matters of mutual interest...

Index of Frank's Diaries
by Frank Schnittger (mail Frankschnittger at hot male dotty communists) on Mon Sep 9th, 2019 at 08:06:57 AM EST
[ Parent ]
I think, you are alluding to the first time Macron publicly expressed dissatisfaction with T. May's request and D. Tusk's "flextension" reply.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.
by Cat on Mon Sep 9th, 2019 at 03:15:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Specifically, Le Drian didn't say "veto"; his exact quote:
« Dans l'état actuel des choses, c'est non » (Given the present situation, it's no)

As tempting it is to present the A50 extension debate as a France vs. UK match, fact is: the EU Council can only grant one  by unanimous decision. In theory, every country of the EU27 can then block the extension, from the largest (Germany, pop. 85 millions) to the smallest (Malta, pop. 370,000). In practice, the Council always did reach a consensus, after much heated discussion for sure, but a consensus nonetheless.

by Bernard (bernard) on Tue Sep 10th, 2019 at 07:19:15 AM EST
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