But she insisted the United Kingdom would not “walk away” from Europe and wanted to retain the “closest economic links”.
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Merkel, during the meeting, stressed Germany’s close partnership with Britain, adding Germany would represent its own interests in upcoming Brexit negotiations, Merkel added.
It was the first time since becoming Prime Minister that Mrs May had confirmed she did not intend to start the process of Brexit until the start of 2017.
Described as “utterly intractable” by a Cameron ally, May will be up against the equally tough Merkel, who has told Britain it will not be able to “cherry pick” what it wants to keep from its European Union membership.
Angela Merkel yesterday told Theresa May she can take her time before triggering Brexit as the world’s two most powerful women held their first summit. “This will take time and it will require serious and detailed work, but as long as we are a member of the European Union we will respect the rights and obligations of membership”.
“Our two countries have always acted on a basis of very clear and firm and similar convictions. And in light of the terrorist attacks in Nice and Wurzburg, we must strengthen our efforts to defeat Daesh and stand up for the values that we share”, she added.
May said Britain won’t invoke Article 50 of the European Union constitution, triggering formal exit talks, this year.
May is said to enjoy hiking trips to the Alps, while Merkel often holidays in mountainous South Tyrol, a mostly German-speaking area of northern Italy.
She said: “I want to work with chancellor Merkel and my colleagues around the European Council in a constructive spirit to make this a sensible and orderly departure”.
“The U.K. would not invoke Article 50 [of the Treaty on European Union] until our objectives are clear”.
“That’s why I have said already- this will not happen before the end of this year”. “I’m aware that won’t please everyone but it is important to provide clarity on that now”.
“May has to build bridges with her fellow leaders”, said Professor Iain Begg, from the European Institute at the London School of Economics.
For Merkel, she indicated she was more than ready to start negotiations with Britain, which she described as “an experienced country in terms of its diplomatic skills”.
May reiterated her promise to reduce United Kingdom immigration to a “sustainable” level of tens of thousands a year – although again, without putting a deadline on it.
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. “It is in all of our interests for Britain to apply for the exit with a very well-defined negotiating position”, said Merkel, who is expected to play a pivotal role in the talks.
“I think it’s absolutely understandable that only a few days after the referendum the (UK) Government will have to take a moment first and seek to identify its interests”, the German Chancellor said.
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“These have to be parallel processes”. You can not completely cut off the bonds and then after a long, winding negotiating process come up with how one sees the future relationship, so a good negotiating process and a sensible and constructive one is in all of our interests.
