BERLIN, July 20 British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Wednesday she wanted to work “constructively” with Germany and other European partners to secure Britain’s “sensible and orderly departure” from the European Union.
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“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.
The move came just hours before May, who took office only a week ago as Britain’s first female leader since Margaret Thatcher stepped down, makes her first foreign trip with a visit to Berlin to meet Merkel.
During both discussions, the prime minister is likely to warn that the United Kingdom needs time to consult with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as well as different industries, before triggering formal negotiations to leave the EU.
May repeated that she wouldn’t trigger Article 50 this year, and Merkel noted that while the European Union treaties state that official notification must be made, they do not stipulate when a request has to be made.
At her news conference with Merkel, May said Britain’s goal was to retain “the closest possible economic relationship” with Germany and other European Union countries.
May has said that Britain would not trigger Article 50 this year.
Merkel, who welcomed the fact that May was visiting Germany so early in her term of office, stressed that negotiations on a “Brexit” could only begin when London had triggered Article 50 – the formal mechanism to leave the bloc.
This is Mrs May’s first overseas trip as PM – and the red carpet was rolled out for her arrival in the German capital, with a military band playing the UK’s national anthem.
“No one wants things to be up in the air – neither Britain nor the member states of the EU”, Merkel said.
May said Wednesday that while she doesn’t underestimate the challenge of negotiating the British exit, she firmly believes “that being able to talk frankly and openly about the issues we face will be an important part of a successful negotiation”.
“I’ve been clear that Brexit means Brexit, but I also want to be clear that we are not walking away from our European friends”, May said during a press conference held before the leaders were due to attend a working dinner.
A spokesman for the United Kingdom prime minister told NBC News that May has only previously met Merkel on the sidelines of a summit in Malta about the migrant crisis.
Merkel has warned that Britain can not have continued access to the single market while restricting the freedom of movement – an emotive issue in the June 23 referendum.
Her meeting with Merkel will be followed by talks in Paris on Thursday with the French president, François Hollande.
Facing her first weekly prime minister’s question session in the House of Commons Wednesday, May did not answer directly when asked if Britain would be willing to leave the single market in order to guarantee migration controls.
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The prime minister told her first cabinet meeting that “politics is not a game” and they must get on with the job.
