Merkel: Britain should hold no illusions exit will be easy
BERLIN — German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday sought to dash British hopes that its exit from the European Union will have only a limited impact on the relations, rights and privileges it now has.
Speaking to German lawmakers ahead of a weekend summit in Brussels to discuss the so-called Brexit, Merkel said to applause that she had “the feeling that some in Britain still have illusions, and that is a waste of time.”
While Europe still envisions Britain as a close partner, Merkel said once it leaves the EU it will be an outsider and as such “can and will not have the same rights or be in a better position than a member of the European Union.”
“All of the 27 members of the European Union and European institutions are agreed upon that,” she said, to applause.