The French leader said Michel Barnier should be the only point of contact for the EU side in Brexit talks after rumours circulated the UK wanted to talk directly to France and Germany.
Britain has become increasingly frustrated with the EU’s approach to Brexit talks, with David Davis urging Brussels to be more flexible in their approach to talks.
This was rebuffed by Mr Barnier, who claimed that Britain’s negotiators had a “nostalgic” concept of the single market and what the EU had become.
Mr Macron said: “I want to be very clear and reiterate our will, which is that there is only one negotiator and only one mandate.
“Only one negotiator, it’s Michel Barnier, and I want here to clear any ambiguity created by false information that was spread.”
Earlier this week, the Telegraph reported that France and other EU states were keen to hold trade talks with Britain in October, although Brussels officials dismissed the speculation and highlighted the guidelines set by states in the European Council.
The European Council’s plan states that Brexit negotiations must be carried out “as a single package” and not as each individual EU state.
A spokesperson for Macron dismissed the reports of singular deals as “groundless” while another source close to the French president said there was “nothing true in this”.
Europhile Macron has laid down a strong marker against Russia recently too, claiming he would not let Putin “get away with anything” in Ukraine.
Western sanctions, imposed after Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, have been ratcheted up since pro-Russian rebels carved out a breakaway region in eastern Ukraine.
In an interview with Le Point published yesterday, Mr Macron said: “I speak with everybody. Very directly and very frankly.”
He added: “On Ukraine, we have major differences with Vladimir Putin. I take note of it. France won’t let him get away with anything.”