French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy had his "full support" in enforcing the law in Catalonia as Madrid readies to take direct control of the rebellious province.

"I have one partner in Spain, that's Prime Minister Rajoy... the rule of law prevails in Spain, with constitutional rules. He wants to ensure they are respected and he has my full support," Macron told reporters on the sidelines of a visit to the overseas territory of French Guiana.