French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Andy Burnham will hold their first talks this Thursday, a day after meeting at the Bayeux Tapestry exhibition at the British Museum. Migrant crossings in small boats through the English Channel and the war in Ukraine are among the issues that both leaders are expected to address.

First modification: 09/03/2026 - 11:37 Last modification: 09/03/2026 - 11:37

Macron is the first European Union leader to be welcomed to Downing Street by Burnham. Migration through the English Channel and Ukraine will be among the main topics on the agenda of French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who will hold their first talks this Thursday.

A day earlier, both leaders contemplated the famous Bayeux Tapestry, loaned by France for an exhibition in London.

The Bayeux Tapestry, a symbol of rapprochement

The leaders gathered at the British Museum on Wednesday night alongside King Charles III, during a preview of the exhibition of the tapestry, a nearly 1,000-year-old embroidery depicting the conquest of England in 1066 by William I, the British monarch's ancestor.

Under an agreement reached with the French Government, the 70-metre tapestry was loaned to the British Museum from its usual headquarters in northern France and transferred to English territory for the first time since it was made.

The French leader stated that he hoped that future generations would remember “the history of two countries that, after centuries of shared history, decided to forge a bond as close as the threads of this ancient embroidery.”

Macron, who is approaching the final months of his presidential term, which will end in May 2027, played a major role for nearly a decade in pushing for the loan of the tapestry, seen as another step toward overcoming tensions generated during the years after Brexit.

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Burnham stated in her speech that this is an opportunity to build a “new future (...) full of optimism and hope.”

The 11th-century work arrived in London in July for a sold-out exhibition.

Migration across the English Channel

Thursday's talks will address joint efforts to stop small boats crossing the English Channel, Burnham told French reporters on Wednesday.

“We have been working alongside the French Government on migration and we can achieve even more together,” Burnham said.

Downing Street said leaders will focus on combating the “emerging use of inflatable megaboats” – larger, more powerful vessels.

A “reinforcement team” made up of 45 French agents will be deployed in the coming weeks on the beaches to prevent these departures, according to Downing Street.

This summer, the United Kingdom recorded the lowest number of migrant arrivals in small boats through the English Channel in recent years, reported the British Government, which highlighted the results of its cooperation agreement with France.

However, Burnham warned before the meeting that "we cannot be complacent. People trafficking networks are constantly adapting their tactics and the United Kingdom and France must respond quickly."

The continuity of support for Ukraine

Burnham has maintained London's support for Ukraine in its war against Russia and chose kyiv as the destination for her first trip abroad.

“That was important, just as our joint action within the Coalition of Volunteers for Ukraine matters,” Macron said during his speech at the British Museum, addressing Burnham.

Macron especially highlighted the British decision to share with Ukraine information on components of the SCALP long-range missile, the French version of the British Storm Shadow.

Macron and former Prime Minister Keir Starmer maintained good relations and took leading roles in the coalition of countries backing Ukraine.

“The prime minister in the United Kingdom may have changed, but our direction has not changed” on Ukraine, Burnham told French reporters on Wednesday.

Downing Street noted that the talks will also likely address stability in the Middle East and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

A new rapprochement between the United Kingdom and the European Union

Macron continues to push his vision of a European sovereignty less dependent on the United States, in which the United Kingdom would play a fundamental role even after its departure from the European Union.

Paris and London “do not always see things the same way,” but “we respect each other and remain open to talking about everything, including moving forward in restoring relations between the United Kingdom and the European Union,” the French leader said Wednesday.

Burnham is seeking to continue the efforts of her predecessor, Keir Starmer, to strengthen cooperation with the European Union after Brexit, while trying to boost Britain's weak economic growth.

“I think it's important to continue what was accomplished by my predecessor, who took steps to bring us closer together again,” Burnham told reporters Wednesday.

“I think, ten years after Brexit, people here are tired of the lack of vision and understand that we need to work more closely together,” he added.

Anand Menon, professor of politics at King's College London, warned, however, of the risk of the talks having "more form than content."

“They can have all the good personal relationship they want, but we need progress in the negotiations with the European Union and I suspect we will not see progress,” he told AFP.

This article is an adaptation of its original in English

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