Recommendation for Advent, after a terrible accident in the English Channel: How about if the French government didn't hit the roof straight away when something was good in London? And how about the British government realizing that the old partners on the continent are not dancing to their tune? Brexit is Brexit. The result of the latest exchange of blows (in front of the domestic politics galleries) is anything but high statecraft: Paris has unloaded the British Home Secretary from a meeting that is supposed to deal with illegal migration and the fight against human smugglers. The fact that Prime Minister Johnson has a strong tendency to be dubious is nothing new.
While the British-French relationship threatens to go down the drain, France is strengthening ties with Italy.
The two neighbors signed a comprehensive contract based on the Franco-German model.
One can expect that this link will be strengthened and expanded, also in the EU;
that is the meaning of the contract.
It remains to be seen whether and how far this will be to the detriment of third parties.
Italy, on the other hand, wants to take the leading position in the EU under a Prime Minister Draghi, who certainly does not have the reputation of being dubious, which London once occupied.