May in Berlin on Wednesday during her first overseas trip as prime minister, said that European Union rules stipulate a country must invoke Article 50 to start the legal process of leaving the 28-nation bloc.
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May, on her first foreign trip since taking office in the wake of Britain’s seismic Brexit referendum, stressed that Britain would not ask to leave the European Union before the end of 2016 in order to plan a “sensible and orderly departure”.
Merkel warned that there will be “no formal or informal talks” until the two-year ‘ Article 50 ‘ process has been triggered.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, right, and British Prime Minister Theresa May hold their earphones during a joint news conference in Berlin. But we all have an interest in this matter being carefully prepared, positions being clearly defined and delineated.
When asked how the two leaders got on at their first meeting, Mrs May said they were two women who want to “get on with the job and deliver the best possible results for the people of the United Kingdom and Germany”.
The prime minister has said she does not expect to commence formal negotiations before the end of the year as she consults with the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish governments as well as business, industry and other stakeholders about the way ahead.
Looking ahead to Britain’s European Union departure, she added: “We are going to try and compete in terms of diplomatic tactics to retain a level playing field”.
“I had heard that Theresa May was a keen walker and we know that Angela Merkel is as well”. Merkel said it was understandable that Britain would take a few months to figure out its negotiating strategy, but added: “Nobody wants a prolonged period of limbo”.
May said that during her meeting with Merkel they also discussed global issues, developments in Ukraine, the civil war in Syria, and the refugee crisis.
The PM told reporters that she defined “sustainable” levels of net migration as in the tens of thousands – considerably less than the hundreds of thousands of people now coming to the United Kingdom each year.
She later had dinner with Merkel to further discuss Brexit over a meal of tuna with mango chutney and veal with mushrooms.
“I understand this timescale will not please everyone but I think it is important to provide clarity on that now”. Asked about their personal rapport, May said: “We have two women here who have got on and had a very constructive discussion”.
Chancellor Merkel said there would be no sly informal talks between Britain and Germany ahead of formal talks on Brexit and a new relationship. “Negotiations with Britain have always been exhausting, interesting and tactically clever negotiations”.
On Thursday, after returning to Britain, she will head to Paris to meet Hollande.
After a week of many firsts, Mrs May made her most closely watched debut, taking to the floor in Parliament to lead the combative centrepiece of the British political week: Prime Minister’s Questions.
Mr Hollande has insisted that Britain should begin exit talks as soon as possible to end uncertainty in the EU.
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“We will continue to work together to stem the flow of migrants across the Aegean and the Mediterranean”.
