EU ‘ready’ to move forward with May on Brexit, says Merkel
The European Union is “ready” to move forward on Britain’s planned exit from the union despite U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May’s stunning loss of her majority in parliament this week, according to German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
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“We want to negotiate quickly, we want to stick to the time plan, and so at this point I don’t think there is anything to suggest these negotiations cannot start as was agreed,” Merkel said Friday, according to multiple reports.
“I assume that Britain, from what I heard from the prime minister today, wants to stick to its negotiating plan,” Merkel said. “We will try to defend the interests of our 27 members states, and Great Britain will defend its own interests.”
May called this week’s snap election in hopes of garnering a strong mandate for the so-called Brexit negotiations and shoring up the Conservative party’s majority. However, the election ended in a major blow to the party when the opposition Labour Party, led by Jeremy Corbyn, picked up 29 seats in Parliament. The loss for her party is expected to weaken May’s hand in negotiating the U.K’s exit from the European Union.
Those talks are expected to begin later this month.
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