Sipilä, Macron discuss defense, migration issues

Prime Minister Juha Sipilä on Friday met with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysee Palace where Sipilä brought with him a presentation including "charts and graphs" on Finland’s competitiveness pact.

They discussed jobs, defence cooperation, migration and the European economic and monetary union, said a press release.

Macron also expressed his discontent about Nokia’s plans to axe hundreds of jobs in France, reported national broadcaster Yle.

Macron called on Britain to first clarify key questions related to the settlement of European Union (EU) citizens, Brexit financial terms, and Ireland in the ongoing negotiations of its departure from the EU, reported news agency Xinhua .

"Before we move forward, we want to clarify matters concerning the settlement of European citizens, the financial terms of exit and the question of Ireland," Macron said.

"If these three points are not clarified, we will not be able to advance on the rest," he added in a joint press meeting with visiting Finnish Prime Minister.

However, the French president also said he noted "signals sent by the Theresa May (British Prime Minister) which shows Britain's willingness to move forward on these points."

Earlier on Friday, May proposed a two-year "period of implementation" after Britain leaves the European Union in a speech in Italian city of Florence.