German minister calls on london firms to move to frankfurt post-brexit

Jens Spahn admitted London would remain “very important” after Britain’s EU divorce but spoke of his hopes for Frankfurt potentially capitalising on London businesses and banks. It comes as

French business chiefs signalled global banks would start moving to Paris from London following the election victory of former Rothschild banker Emmanuel Macron. Arnaud de Breton, chief

executive of Paris EUROPLACE, which promotes the city's financial sector, told the Evening Standard: "The next decade will be a French decade." He claims 10,000 bankers, fund

managers and other top financiers will make the move, as will 10,000 "indirect" jobs, including accountants, IT specialists and lawyers. But Mr Spahn said Germany would stand

strong. He said: “With all due respect I would say we have a second financial hub, that’s Frankfurt, already within the European Union with the ECB there with many many big banks and

financial institutions there. “And of course we would love, as the German government, if those who decide to leave, at least with some entities, London to go to continental Europe to be

within the eurozone and the European Union that they go to Frankfurt. MICHEL BARNIER CONFIRMS BREXIT TALKS WILL BEGIN ON JUNE 19 “Of course we would love to see that but we have as well an

understanding that London will remain a very important financial hub for all companies all over Europe.” When asked if London would be a “dominant” or just “important” within the financial

sector, the politician said, “we will see how it develops”. “I’m a member of the German government, of course, I would love Frankfurt to play an important role as a financial hub and more

important one in the future,” he said. “But I would say there’s enough room for two or three hubs within  Europe and London worldwide… with a worldwide view, London will, of course, remain

an important financial hub.”