After the Chancellor had welcomed the new Prime Minister with military honours, and following an initial exchange of views, Chancellor Angela Merkel and the new British Prime Minister Theresa May reported to the press that their talks had been positive. The atmosphere, they said, was cordial and constructive. "I am very happy that Prime Minister Theresa May has come to Berlin so soon after taking office, and that I have had the opportunity to welcome her here today," said Angela Merkel. "I see this as a sign of the close links between our countries."

Theresa May (born 1956) was named new party leader by the British Conservative Party on 13 July 2016, making her successor to Prime Minister David Cameron, who resigned following the outcome of the referendum on the UK’s continued membership of the European Union.

Brexit and the consequences

Angela Merkel and Theresa May explained their divergent views of what steps will now be taken following the Leave vote. The Chancellor repeated her view that the UK referendum has made a deep impact on the history of the European Union. Europe must now look in great depth at the consequences of this step for the EU.

At the same time the United Kingdom must decide how it would like to shape future relations with the continent and the other 27 member states of the EU. The British electorate has decided, and now action must be taken in line with Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty. Angela Merkel reaffirmed that negotiations cannot start until London has officially notified the European Council of its intention to leave. "It is in everybody’s best interests if the United Kingdom has a clear negotiating position when it does so."

Nobody wants a stalemate; there must be parallel processes, said Angela Merkel, because "we cannot cut off all links before then engaging in a protracted negotiating process to see which links are to be established."

Strengthening common ground

In view of the many problems, crises and threats in the world, it is, however, important to further intensify political links with British partners, stressed the Chancellor. In future Germany and the United Kingdom will continue to work together in good faith at different levels; in NATO, the G20 and the G7.

"Irrespective of the process of leaving the EU, we naturally want to continue, and ideally strengthen, our bilateral relations, also in the field of commerce and industry," said the Chancellor to the press. This is "in everybody’s best interests". Germany will discuss with the UK all matters and events, including those "over which we have no control ourselves, but which we must deal with".

When she wrote to Theresa May to congratulate her on her new office Angela Merkel stressed, "It is a personal concern of mine to continue the long partnership based on trust between our two countries, and to intensify this." With the Prime Minister, she would like to "push ahead with cooperation in the field of foreign policy as we have always cooperated with the United Kingdom".