PUBLISHED: 12:15 29 July 2020 | UPDATED: 12:15 29 July 2020

France's European affairs minister Clement Beaune. Photograph: European Commission.

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A French minister has echoed Theresa May in warning that no deal is better than a bad deal for protecting European interests.

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Almost four years after its creation The New European goes from strength to strength across print and online, offering a pro-European perspective on Brexit and reporting on the political response to the coronavirus outbreak, climate change and international politics. But we can only continue to grow with your support.

The countrys European affairs minister Clement Beaune said it will continue to take a tough line on Brexit talks, saying that the EU would not accept a deal at any price.

The new minister has been described as Emmanuel Macrons Brexit whisperer, with reports suggesting the French president is keen to use Britains departure an opportunity to make Europe stronger.

Beaune said that he believed a prospect of a deal with the UK is still possible, and said that a deal was the best outcome, but he warned they would take a tough stance on issues such as the fisheries - which remains a sticking point for a deal.

We will not accept a deal at any price, he told France Inter radio.

Better no deal at all than a bad deal, he added.

Beaune, however, accepted that a no-deal situation would not be good for the EU, but that the interests of the union and his own country was important.

Lets not kid ourselves, if there is no deal, it will be a difficult issue, Well have to organise a response for sectors like fisheries. Support our fishermen financially. Were not there yet.

He added representatives of the EU would not be intimidated by the game that British negotiators were playing.

During Theresa Mays tenure as leader she regularly warned the EU that a no deal situation is better than a bad deal.

Almost four years after its creation The New European goes from strength to strength across print and online, offering a pro-European perspective on Brexit and reporting on the political response to the coronavirus outbreak, climate change and international politics. But we can only rebalance the right wing extremes of much of the UK national press with your support. If you value what we are doing, you can help us by making a contribution to the cost of our journalism.

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French minister echoes Theresa May over Brexit with 'no deal better than a bad deal' warning - The New European