Germany wants ‘an orderly Brexit’, Merkel says

By Ayhan Simsek

BERLIN

German Chancellor Angela Merkel Tuesday expressed hope that the EU and the U.K. would formalize Brexit agreement on the weekend.

Speaking at a joint news conference with Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen in Berlin, Merkel underlined that U.K.’s withdrawal from the EU entered into a decisive phase.

“Hopefully we will have a European Council meeting on Sunday to sign the withdrawal agreement and to discuss the future relations,” she said.

“We never wanted this withdrawal, but as it would happen, we want to achieve two things. First, we would like to have an orderly withdrawal. And secondly, we would like to have good, friendly and close relations in the future, as well,” she added.

British Prime Minister Theresa May will travel to Brussels on Wednesday to meet European Commission President Jean Claude-Juncker and discuss the final details on the Brexit.

Last week, May's cabinet approved the draft deal struck by the EU and British negotiators, but resignations of her Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab and Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey led to uncertainty on the future course of Brexit.

By Ayhan Simsek

BERLIN

German Chancellor Angela Merkel Tuesday expressed hope that the EU and the U.K. would formalize Brexit agreement on the weekend.

Speaking at a joint news conference with Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen in Berlin, Merkel underlined that U.K.’s withdrawal from the EU entered into a decisive phase.

“Hopefully we will have a European Council meeting on Sunday to sign the withdrawal agreement and to discuss the future relations,” she said.

British Prime Minister Theresa May will travel to Brussels on Wednesday to meet European Commission President Jean Claude-Juncker and discuss the final details on the Brexit.