European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said in Paris on Friday that the EU should be consistent in denying the United Kingdom access to the single market if Britain wants to control migration, AFP reported on Friday.
"You can't have one foot in and one foot out," Juncker said. He added that Britain must respect EU rules if it wants access to the bloc’s internal market and that the EU must be “unyielding” on this matter. Juncker's words echoed those of France's President Francois Hollande who said on Thursday that the EU must be firm on a "hard Brexit."
Earlier this week, U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May stated the country is not willing to abandon its control over migration, causing fears of a “hard Brexit,” which resulted in a sharp decline of the British pound.
After hitting lowest levels against the dollar since 1985 overnight when it traded for $1.926, the U.K. currency fell 1.91% to go for $1.2377 at 12:50 p.m. CET.
Image: EPA / Manuel Lopez