- Title: Merkel: May speech gave more clarity on British approach to Brexit
- Date: 18th January 2017
- Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (JANUARY 18, 2017) (REUTERS) GERMAN CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL AND ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER PAOLO GENTILONI ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE PHOTOGRAPHER WIDE OF MERKEL AND GENTILONI CLOSE OF MERKEL AND GENTILONI MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN CHANCELLOR, ANGELA MERKEL, SAYING: "The speech by British Prime Minister Theresa May gave more clarity on the British approach to Brexit. However, negotiations will only begin when the application at enact Article 50 has been submitted. We are determined to work closely together and, of course, our economies will also cooperate. But as I said, I not worried that we will not stick together. Rather the main thing is that Europe does not let itself be divided and we will make sure of that via very intensive dialogue." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER PAOLO GENTILONI, SAYING: "I also believe that Theresa May's speech yesterday, gave us something to definite to chew on. Because up to now there was always just this slogan: Brexit. And now we now a little bit more precisely how the British government interprets the slogan: Brexit. I think that the EU is ready to talk. There will be solidarity amongst ourselves and a friendship with the United Kingdom. But I want to underline two things: What is important to me and something positive is that Theresa May affirmed international alliances and that the agenda of Brexit depends on existing treaties. That means we know Article 50, we know how the negotiations will open and how they imagine it will go from there. And on this basis there will one day be an agreement." MERKEL AND GENTILONI SHAKING HANDS MERKEL AND GENTILONI LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 1st February 2017 13:34
- Keywords: Merkel Gentiloni Italy Germany
- Location: BERLIN, GERMANY
- City: BERLIN, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: European Union,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0015ZLYH53
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The European Union has more clarity on how the British government will go into talks on leaving the bloc after Prime Minister Theresa May's speech on Tuesday but negotiations cannot start until London triggers the process, Angela Merkel said in Berlin on Wednesday (January 18).
"The speech made by British Prime Minister Theresa May has given us a clear impression of how Great Britain wants to proceed but nonetheless the negotiations will only start when the application has been made in accordance with Article 50," the German chancellor said at a news conference on Wednesday with her Italian counterpart.
"The main thing is that Europe does not let itself be divided and we will make sure of that via very intensive dialogue," she said.
Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, on his first state visit to Germany, said he expected Britain's exit to follow the legal channels and expected a friendship between the UK and Europe. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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