‘ EU hopes to keep UK close after exit vote’
Beijing, July 13: European Commission head Jean- Claude Juncker said Wednesday he hoped relations with Britain could be “as close as possible” despite the country’s vote to leave the bloc.
“I want for relations with Britain to be as close as possible — I will not negotiate with Britain in a hostile mood,” he said in Beijing. But he repeated the grouping’s stance that “there will be no negotiations at any level” before London formally triggers the Article 50 mechanism.
His comments came as Ms Theresa May prepared to become Britain’s second female Prime Minister, after Mr David Cameron steps down in the wake of the referendum.
Mr Juncker — who had a famously antagonistic relationship with Mr Cameron in the run up to his appointment as the Commission chief — said he would “miss” the outgoing PM because of their “excellent professional relationship.”
European leaders have asked London to quickly formalise its divorce from the EU but Ms May has indicated she will not be rushed.
EU president Donald Tusk — sitting beside Mr Juncker at a press conference following an EU- China business forum — added that “after this so called
French President Francois Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Italy’s Prime Minister Matteo Renzi will meet in August for a summit on Britain leaving the EU divorce procedure the UK will remain our closest partner”.
Mr Juncker sought to calm fears over Brexit, telling the forum that “Europe with 27 ( member countries) is the second economic zone in the world and will remain so. She will remain the world’s leading market.”
French President Francois Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Italy’s Prime Minister Matteo Renzi will meet in August for a summit on Britain leaving the EU, the French presidency said Wednesday.
On the day Ms May takes over as the British PM, French government spokesman Stephane Le Foll said “a summit or meeting” would take place at the end of August to discuss Britain’s departure from the EU.
He did not specify where the meeting would take place.
France has pushed for Britain to quickly launch the procedure to break away from the bloc.