- Title: Hollande cautions against Brexit negotiation 'ambiguity'
- Date: 28th September 2016
- Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (SEPTEMBER 28, 2016) (REUTERS POOL) VARIOUS OF HOLLANDE IN CONVERSATION JUNCKER IN CONVERSATION / MERKEL AND HOLLANDE WALKING TO TABLE HOLLANDE SITTING AT TABLE JOURNALISTS FILMING AND PHOTOGRAPHING MEETING HOLLANDE AND MERKEL SITTING JUNCKER SITTING MEETING PARTICIPANTS SITTING HOLLANDE AND MERKEL SITTING MEETING BEGINNING
- Embargoed: 13th October 2016 19:07
- Keywords: Angela Merkel Francois Hollande Jean-Claude Juncker Brexit referendum European Round Table of Industrialists
- Location: BERLIN, GERMANY
- City: BERLIN, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: European Union,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00251HBH3B
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: French President Francois Hollande has cautioned against "ambiguity" in negotiations concerning the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union, saying on Wednesday (September 28) the criteria for Brexit must be well-defined.
"We will make sure to say to the United Kingdom that we want to work with them as our friends but according to very well-defined criteria. If there is any ambiguity about what we want to do together, that would not be good for the British economy or for the European Union," Hollande said ahead of a Berlin meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and representatives from the European Round Table of Industrialists.
Merkel said that the ramifications of Brexit would be on the agenda at the meeting, and emphasised that the remaining 27 EU member states would prioritise their own citizens.
British Prime Minister Theresa May has ruled out giving formal notification this year of Britain's intention to leave the European Union under Article 50 of the EU treaty, but has not given any clear guidance of her intentions beyond that.
European Council President Donald Tusk and Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny have both said that May's government is indicating it could be ready to launch formal negotiations to leave the EU in January or February of 2017.
Because this would start the clock ticking on an extremely tight two-year deadline for completing the divorce, British officials have been pushing behind the scenes for early consultations with the EU.
EU member states have sent out different signals on what kind of agreement might be acceptable. But there is a broad consensus that if Britain places limits on free movement it will be difficult for it to retain access to the EU's single market. - Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
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