英國政府與歐盟的貿易談判將于明年年初啟動。英國首相特蕾莎·梅認為，金融業人士應該對談判結果保持樂觀。

與波蘭總理馬泰烏什·莫拉維茨基會晤后，梅在飛機上表示，莫拉維茨基對與英國服務業簽署專門協議態度比較開放，“很令人鼓舞?！彼€提到，上周意大利總理保羅·真蒂洛尼曾表示應該對英國制定“針對性的協議”。她認為這表明，其他歐盟領導人對英國根據自身情況與歐盟開展貿易也比較開明。

“波蘭總理明確表示，金融服務業不僅對英國很重要，對整個歐盟也很重要。很高興聽到這番話?！泵犯嬖V記者。她說，莫拉維茨的看法“反映了現實：其他領導人也期望與我們超越現有模式，搭建良好的貿易關系?！?

這番言論顯示，在歐盟領導人上周認同第一階段談判取得“顯著進展”后，英國在為明年3月開始與歐盟進行貿易談判做準備，同時也在歐盟成員國中積極尋找盟友。

巴尼耶明確反對

如果按照梅的說法，莫拉維茨等歐盟領導人應該并不認同歐盟首席談判代表米歇爾·巴尼耶最近的表態。在本周一英國《衛報》發表的采訪談話中，巴尼耶說不可能跟英國就金融服務業達成專門協議。他表示，英國決定離開歐盟單一市場后就已經排除了可能性。

早前，莫拉維茨上周四跟梅一道出席新聞發布會時，對“危險的”貿易保護主義觀念發出警告。他說：“我認為，英國與歐盟應該繼續保持目前的緊密聯系，盡快就經濟與貿易合作達成新協議，確保雙方商業界清楚情況。”

近來英國政府已經加緊行動，保護本國金融等專業服務行業。梅和英國央行行長馬克·卡尼上周三表示，英國銀行需要歐洲市場的同時，歐洲也需要英國銀行。金融服務業對英國的重要性不言而喻。據英國金融服務顧問公司TheCityUK估算，該行業從業人士約220萬，在英國GDP中占近11%。

除了應付巴尼耶展現的強硬態度，上周梅的親密工作伙伴——副首相達米安·格林被曝電腦中有色情內容后宣布辭職。不過去華沙與莫拉維茨的會晤后，她開始樂觀起來。

梅保持樂觀

“其他歐洲國家領導人給我留下的印象是期待貿易磋商，他們了解其中的重要性，”梅說，“我對即將進行的談判很樂觀，因為不僅僅符合我們的利益，也符合歐盟27個成員國的利益。”

梅認為，英國金融業應該“感到鼓舞”，因為政府“充分承認金融服務的重要性，而且很明確一點，未來英國與歐盟維持關系時不僅注重商品貿易，也會考慮服務業?！?

梅還談到，為格林離去感到難過。格林被查出辦公電腦中藏有色情視頻，之后又故意撒謊隱瞞，違反了官員行為規范。

“我很傷心，我們從上大學就認識了，他是一位優秀的官員，”梅對記者說，“可對我來說，內閣大臣的報告更重要。顯然他的行為違反了官員行為準則。身在公職，我們就要按照高標準嚴于律己?！?（財富中文網）

譯者：Pessy

審稿：夏林

Prime Minister Theresa May said the U.K.’s financial sector should be optimistic about the outcome of Britain’s trade talks with the European Union that are due to start early next year.

Speaking on the plane after meeting with Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in Warsaw, May said her counterpart’s openness to a special deal on services was “encouraging.” She cited comments by Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni last week that there should be a “tailor-m21ade deal” for the U.K. as evidence that other EU leaders are open to Britain carving out a bespoke trading relationship with the bloc.

“It was good to hear that the Polish prime minister was clear about the importance of financial services, not just for London but for the whole of the European Union,” May told reporters. Morawiecki’s views “reflect the fact that other leaders as well are looking to us having a good trading relationship that isn’t based on a model that already exists.”

The remarks show how the U.K. is seeking allies among member states as it prepares to begin trade talks with the bloc in March after EU leaders agreed last week that “sufficient progress” had been made in the first phase of negotiations.

Barnier’s Stance

It’s also a rejection of the verdict of EU Chief Negotiator Michel Barnier. He used an interview published on Monday in the Guardian newspaper to rule out a special deal for the U.K. financial services industry, saying Britain had made one impossible as a result of its decision to leave the single market.

“My view is that U.K.-EU relationship should stay close to where it is now and that the new agreement on economic and trade cooperation should be reached as quickly as possible to ensure clarity for businesses on both sides,” Morawiecki said in a press conference alongside May earlier on Thursday, warning against “dangerous” protectionism.

Britain has stepped up its defense of financial and professional services in recent days, with May and Bank of England Governor Mark Carney on Wednesday sending the message that Europe needs Britain’s banks as much as they need access to European markets. The importance of the industry to Britain is clear: TheCityUK, an industry body, estimates that it employs more than 2.2 million people and contributes nearly 11 percent of economic output.

At the end of a week which started with Barnier’s hardline stance and also saw May forced to fire Damian Green, one of her closest political allies, over pornography allegations, May said the meeting in Warsaw was a cause for optimism.

May’s Optimism

“The impression I’ve had from other European leaders is they’re looking forward to the discussions on trade, they see the importance of this,” May said. “I’m looking optimistically at the talks that we’re going to be having because the important thing is it’s not just in our interests but in the interests of the EU 27.”

The prime minister said the financial sector should “take encouragement” from the fact that her government “recognizes the importance of financial services and is clear that as we look ahead to our relationship for the future it’s important that we include services in that as well as goods,” she said.

May also spoke of her personal sadness at having to fire Green, who was found to have breached the ministerial code by lying about when he knew of allegations that pornography had been found on one of his office computers.

“I was very sad, he and I have known each other since university and he’s a good minister,” May told reporters. “But for me what was important was the cabinet secretary’s report,” she said. “It was clear there had been breaches of the ministerial code and it’s important we uphold the highest standards in public life.”