Sad but realistic...how EU reacted to Brexit speech

MEPs on the Continent were quick to voice dismay at Theresa May’s speech but there was a wider welcome from senior EU figures. Jan Philipp Albrecht, a Green from Germany, used a four-letter word to sum up his view of the Prime Minister’s message to the EU and accused Mrs May of “whining” for favourable treatment. He added: “Sad: Everything May tells her British people to achieve would be possible inside the EU but will be daydreams outside it.” But Donald Tusk, president of the European Council of EU government ministers who will oversee talks, said that while it was “sad process, surrealistic times”, Mrs May’s speech was “at least more realistic”. Britain’s 27 EU partners were “united and ready to negotiate” once Mrs May invokes Article 50, which she has said she will do by the end of March, to launch formal talks, he added.

Belgian socialist Kathleen Van Brempt posted an angry tweet, saying: “The EU is not a menu where the UK can freely pick and choose to their liking.”

The European Parliament’s Brexit negotiator, Guy Verhofstadt, said it was an “illusion” to think Britain could have the advantages of the single market without its obligations. The EU would not accept a deal that made the UK better off outside the bloc, he said.

But German economy minister Sigmar Gabriel said: “It’s good that there is finally now a bit more clarity about Britain’s direction.”

Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Germany’s foreign minister, added: “She has underlined Great Britain is striving for a constructive partnership, a friendship, with a strong EU. That is good.”

Czech EU Minister Tomas Prouza tweeted that after a “thorough speech... at least now we know UK wants hard Brexit”.

Mrs May spoke to French president Francois Hollande after the speech.

“The president hoped negotiations would begin as soon as possible after the notification of the planned exit,” a French source said.