Brexit gives EU members 'opportunities' in financial markets, says French minister

France‘s finance minister Bruno Le Maire said Brexit gives the EU the chance to strengthen its economy and secure “extra jobs and wealth”.

He made the comments during a joint press conference with his German counterpart Wolfgang Schaeuble in Berlin on Monday.

Mr Le Maire said: “We see in Brexit the possibility for our financial markets to be more attractive than they were in the past. This means extra jobs and wealth for our countries.

“The Brexit vote has given us this opportunity and we must now seize this opportunity.”

Mr Le Maire and Mr Schaeuble agreed to focus on strengthening the flailing eurozone, and announced they would be setting up a working group that would present ideas by July on how to deepen eurozone integration.

Mr Le Maire said that the working group would look at “fiscal convergence, coordinating economic policy and joint investment projects,” adding that the France and Germany would strive to deliver “successful reforms”.

Mr Le Maire said: “We have a responsibility to deliver results.”

He added Marine Le Pen’s close brush with victory in France’s presidential election earlier this month had cast a harsh light on the EU’s lack of economic and social cohesion. 

Mr Le Maire said: “This obliges us all to deliver concrete results. Because if we don’t succeed, the extremes will succeed us.”

Mr Schaeuble said the biggest challenge for both himself and Mr Le Maire as finance ministers was to make their “contribution to the promotion of Europe at a time of chances but also of challenges,” adding that strengthening the monetary union was of “great importance”.

Mr Le Maire added that France would “meet European commitments to reduce its public debt”.