Germany deplores Britain’s exit, Merkel tells May
ANGELA Merkel yesterday bluntly told Theresa May she still “deplores” Britain’s decision to leave the European Union.
But in warmer tones that were welcomed by the UK side, the German Chancellor also denied being “frustrated” about the lack of detail so far in Britain’s plans.
She indicated Germany would be open to agreeing the terms of a close future relationship that worked for both sides and kept trade going between Britain and the Continent.
The two leaders spoke in Berlin after more than an hour of talks on Brexit and wider international affairs.
Mrs Merkel – who is still awaiting confirmation of a new coalition government pact in Germany after disappointing election results last year – told a news conference: “We basically have not changed our stance on Britain leaving the EU. “We deplore it. “But we want to adopt a constructive position because we want to have as close as possible partnership with Britain even after leaving the EU both economically and politically.” It was the first meeting of the two since a contested report that Mrs Merkel openly mocked Mrs May’s failure to offer more detail about what Britain wanted at a meeting with journalists in Davos.
Yesterday Mrs Merkel said their latest talks were “candid” but she was not frustrated about the situation and perhaps both sides were in a process of learning and seeking common ground.
She added: “I’m just curious how Britain envisages this future partnership. We very much look forward to Britain again setting out its ideas.
“We would like to initiate those negotiations because we are under a certain amount of time pressure.
“But we also want to be very diligent and very careful in working on this which means we will have frequent exchanges of views.”
Mrs Merkel also said she hoped Anglo-EU relations could be “as close as possible” after Brexit.
Britain outside the EU could not have the same arrangements as a member.
But there must be the right rules to ensure that after Brexit day for example flights and healthcare systems continued to work and trade and services continued.
Mrs May said the next round of Brexit talks in Brussels will start on Monday with the immediate goal of agreeing the broad terms of a transition period after Britain officially leaves on March 29 next year.
But she also wanted to agree a “bold and ambitious economic partnership” for the future, which the Government would say more about “in the coming weeks”.
Apparently seeking to appeal directly to Germany’s business community to press its government for a good deal the Prime Minister stressed how hundreds of thousands of jobs in both countries depend on existing trade links between the two countries.
Mrs May said: “Our proud history of commerce goes back to at least the 12th century... and it is vital to people in both the UK and Germany that this shared tradition continues.
“I want to ensure that UK companies have the maximum freedom to trade and operate within German markets, and for German businesses to do the same in the UK.”
Indicating she is also looking for movement from EU leaders Mrs May said: “It isn’t just a one-way street.
“I want a future economic partnership that is good for the EU – is good for Germany, is good for the other remaining members of the EU – and is good for the UK.”