UK's May tells Germany: Brexit preparations are 'on track'

Record ID: 78319

  • Title: UK's May tells Germany: Brexit preparations are 'on track'
  • Date: 18th November 2016
  • Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (NOVEMBER 18, 2016) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** BRITISH PRIME MINISTER THERESA MAY AND GERMAN CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL ARRIVING FOR STATEMENT CAMERA (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN CHANCELLOR, ANGELA MERKEL, SAYING: "We will not be able to discuss Britain's exit from the European Union very deeply, as the prime minister has said she will submit the application to leave according to Article 50 at the latest by the end of March. We accept that, and we are waiting for this application." REPORTER FILMING WITH SMARTPHONE (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH PRIME MINISTER, THERESA MAY, SAYING: "I will be able to update Chancellor Merkel on where we are on our Brexit preparations. Our work is on track, we do stand ready to trigger Article 50 before the end of March, or by the end of March 2017, that's next year and I want to see this as a smooth process, an orderly process, working towards a solution that is in the interests of both the United Kingdom but also in the interests of our European partners too." MAY SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH PRIME MINISTER, THERESA MAY, SAYING: "On Syria, of course looking at Aleppo we were united in our condemnation of the atrocities that are taking place there. We are agreed (on) the need to keep up the pressure on Russia, including the possibility of sanctions on those who breach international humanitarian law." VARIOUS OF MAY SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH PRIME MINISTER, THERESA MAY, SAYING: "And we support the EU actions to work in source countries to deal with the root causes of migration. On security, as was discussed at the foreign affairs council earlier this week, we support efforts to strengthen European security where those complement NATO." BRITISH, EU AND GERMAN FLAG MAY AND MERKEL LEAVING
  • Embargoed: 3rd December 2016 14:29
  • Keywords: May Britain Brexit Germany Merkel Russia migration
  • Location: BERLIN, GERMANY
  • City: BERLIN, GERMANY
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA00158Z126F
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Prime Minister Theresa May on Friday (November 18) assured her German counterpart that preparations for Britain's exit from the European Union were on schedule, and that the legal process would begin by the end of March next year.
    "Our work is on track, we do stand ready to trigger Article 50 before the end of March, or by the end of March 2017," she told German Chancellor Angela Merkel during a joint media briefing in Berlin ahead of a bilateral meeting.
    May's comments follow persistent criticism from opposition lawmakers that the government does not have an exit strategy. There is also the possibility that her plans could be delayed by a legal decision that she must win parliamentary approval before triggering Brexit. The government's appeal against that decision will be heard in early December.
    "I want to see this as a smooth process, an orderly process, working towards a solution that is in the interests of both the United Kingdom but also in the interests of our European partners too," May said.
    Merkel said it was not be possible to discuss Brexit in detail during their meeting on Friday as Britain has not yet started the formal process of leaving the bloc.
    May during her statement also commented on the meeting with US President Barack Obama and other European leaders earlier on Friday, which underscored the importance of working together in NATO and chided Russia for its bombing of Syria and failure to implement a Ukrainian peace accord.
    "On Syria, of course looking at Aleppo we were united in our condemnation of the atrocities that are taking place there. We are in need of keeping up the pressure on Russia including the possibility of sanctions on those who breach international humanitarian law," May said.
    "And we support the EU actions to work in source countries to deal with the root causes of migration. On security as was discussed at the foreign affairs council earlier this week we support efforts to strengthen European security where those complement NATO," she added.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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