Speaking at the start of their meeting at the No. 10 Downing Street, Tusk also said “the ball is now in your court” as they discussed the next steps on Brexit, according to British press reports.
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Tusk told May that the summit members would not discuss future relations with the seceding island-nation and reiterated that Britain would need to submit its official request to exit.
Tusk said the other European Union members were waiting to see when May would trigger the Article 50 of the Lisbon treaty which formally launches Britain’s exit from the EU.
Brexit Secretary David Davis said last week that it was “improbable” Britain could remain in the EU’s single market in goods and services while imposing restrictions on immigration from European Union countries.
“This is the position shared by all 27 member states”. When the Article 50 countdown begins, Britain will be at a major negotiating disadvantage (expecially since other European leaders have an incentive to make this as unpleasant as possible for Britain in order to discourage any countries from getting similar ideas), so they’re trying to get as many concessions as they can now, before the clock officially starts running.
“Our goal (is) to establish closest possible EU-UK relations”. He said the process should begin “as soon as possible”.
May said she wanted a smooth process, and added that she and Tusk had serious issues to discuss Britain’s decision to leave the European Union, following a referendum on June 23.
May told lawmakers on Wednesday that her government would “think through the issues in a sober and considered way”. Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May, right, talks with President of the European Council Donald Tusk at 10 Downing Street in London, Thursday, Sept. 8, 2016.
The PM has said the government will not reveal its hand too soon, amid pressure to set out its post-Brexit vision.
She refused to say whether she wanted the United Kingdom to remain in the European single market.
However, Corbyn found himself in a row over the single market after a senior aide suggested he might rule out full membership unless Britain can negotiate exemptions from key European Union rules.
Following the 75-minute meeting, Mrs May’s official spokeswoman played down suggestions that Mr Tusk’s comments were meant to put pressure on the PM to hasten the invocation of Article 50.
“It is in all our interests that there is a smooth departure, that we continue to work together, albeit with the United Kingdom on the outside, about how we can deliver economic growth, make sure that economic benefits are being spread around the country”, her spokeswoman said.
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The spokeswoman characterised the mood of the pair’s first formal bilateral meeting, which took place over a breakfast of fresh fruit and scrambled eggs with smoked salmon, as “quite relaxed, friendly and warm”.
