BERLIN (The Guardian) - Theresa May has been given a stark warning from both Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande that Britain faces a "rough” and "hard” negotiation as she pursues a tough approach to Brexit negotiations including a clampdown on immigration.
The prime minister updated her fellow leaders with a short speech on Britain’s plans for leaving the EU after a dinner in Brussels that had been dominated by a tense debate on Russia.
No EU leader responded to May, following the lead of the European council president, Donald Tusk, who had wanted to avoid discussion of Brexit.
Speaking after the summit, Merkel said the speech repeated what EU leaders already knew but was nevertheless important.
"As long as Great Britain hadn’t concluded the negotiations it will continue to be a member with all the rights and duties that entails and that was a very good piece of news for us,” she said.
But she added a warning on negotiations: "It is going to be rough going I think. It will not be that easy. But what she said today is OK.”
Earlier in the day the French president said the EU was prepared to make things difficult for the UK if May pursued a tough approach to Brexit negotiations.
But the British prime minister and Conservative leader, who angered some EU leaders with her uncompromising party conference speech, received a frostier reception from Martin Schulz.
The president of the European parliament used a speech to all 28 European leaders, including May, to warn that any restrictions on refugees would mean an economic cost for the UK.