Theresa May meets European President at Number 10 for Brexit talks

Mark Chandler23 September 2016
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Theresa May has told the president of the European Parliament she wants Britain to have a "close relationship" with the EU after Brexit.

The Prime Minister met Martin Schulz for an hour at Number 10 to discuss the UK's departure from the European Union.

It came as Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said the Government expects to trigger Article 50 and begin formal talks on Brexit early next year.

Greeting Mr Schulz upstairs at Number 10, Mrs May said: "I'm looking forward to working with the European Parliament as we prepare, obviously, for Britain leaving the EU.

"Of course we both know that the formal negotiations can only start when we have triggered the Article 50 and I welcome the understanding that our European partners have shown, but I won't be doing that before the end of the year.

"I think this period of preparation is valuable for all concerned and while we are going to leave the European Union, we are not leaving Europe.

"And we want the EU to continue to be strong and have a close relationship with it, and I think that will be in both our interests."

Meeting: Prime Minister Theresa May with the President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz 
PA

Mrs May has not confirmed when she will start formal negotiations on leaving the bloc, but Mr Schulz has said he wants the "earliest possible triggering of Article 50" so negotiations finish before European elections. These are scheduled for mid 2019 so would mean negotiations would have to begin by May next year.

Arriving at Downing Street, Mr Schulz admitted the European Parliament is "not the easiest" partner to work with, but said he is in Britain "to listen and to learn".

He said: "The goal of my visit also is to ensure that the next coming months are the start of very close co-operation between the European Parliament and the United Kingdom government.

"Together we are stronger, we should try to stick together.

"The European Parliament is involved in all activities before, and once you have triggered, Article 50, and I'm here to listen and to learn also about the state of preparation about your vision for the negotiation.

"But also to pass the message that we are, as the European Parliament, constructive but, logically, also not the easiest partner in the relationship, because the European Parliament is a very heterogeneous chamber with 750 members from 28 countries representing 300 parties."

He did not stop to speak to reporters as he left Number 10, but when asked how the talks went simply said "very good".

In an earlier statement Mr Schulz said he would press the case for the UK Government to hurry up and get on with Brexit.

He said: "I will also reiterate that the four freedoms of the single market - goods, capital, services and persons - are equally important.

"In London I will also stress why the European Parliament favours the earliest possible triggering of Article 50, which is a pre-condition to opening negotiations."

Mr Schulz later met mayor of London Sadiq Khan and will meet Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn on Friday to discuss Brexit.

Additional reporting by the Press Association

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