Brexit - as it happened: Angela Merkel speaks out on Britain's EU withdrawal - 'We deplore it'

British Prime Minister met her German counterpart in Berlin

Theresa May makes statement following discussions with Angela Merkel

Theresa May has held a joint press conference with her German counterpart Angela Merkel as the Prime Minister prepared to deliver a speech on the UK’s “security partnership” with the bloc after Brexit.

After Ms May met with Ms Merkel at the Chancellery in Berlin, the pair delivered joint statements but the German Chancellor said she is still “curious” about what the UK’s goals from Brexit are.

During the exchange with journalists Ms Merkel said the German position on Brexit had not changed, adding: “We deplore it.”

She denied she was “frustrated” with the process, but said: “We very much look forward to Britain again setting out its ideas.

“We would like to initiate those negotiations because we are under a certain amount of time pressure but we also want be very diligent and very careful in working on this which means we will have frequent exchanges of views.”

Speaking at the same presentation, Ms May said she would be “saying something in the coming weeks” about the kind of future economic partnership the UK wanted with the EU, but insisted “it isn’t just a one-way street”.

[16 February 2018 15:49 · Ashley Cowburn]

[16 February 2018 15:52 · Ashley Cowburn]

Theresa May is in Berlin for talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The pair are expected to hold a press conference shortly.

The two leaders are meeting ahead of a speech by the Prime Minister in Munich on Saturday on Britain's future security relations with the EU.

[16 February 2018 15:53 · Ashley Cowburn]

[16 February 2018 16:12 · Ashley Cowburn]

[16 February 2018 16:19 · Ashley Cowburn]

The press conference has now started - Angela Merkel is up. She says the EU look forward to Britain setting out its ideas - ahead of May's speech at the security conference in Munich on Saturday. 

"We would like to initiate those negotiations," she says - referring to the tight timeframe. 

[16 February 2018 16:24 · Ashley Cowburn]

Theresa May is now speaking - she says Merkel was the first head of Government she visited after becoming Prime Minister. 

May says we're now ready to enter the next round of negotiations - the UK and Germany's shared history and culture makes the two countries strong allies. 

She says the UK remains unconditionally committed to security co-operation with the EU after Brexit.

[16 February 2018 16:27 · Ashley Cowburn]

May says the Government has been setting - at different times - the different stages of the process. She says on Saturday she will set out her vision for security partnerships with the EU after Brexit

Merkel says she is not "frustrated" - rather "curious" - at what Britain wants from the future relationship with the EU. Both sides are in the process of learning she says. 

[16 February 2018 16:28 · Ashley Cowburn]

[16 February 2018 16:32 · Ashley Cowburn]

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Sky News asks whether she accepts it is for the British Government to set out what they want - not for what the EU offer. 

May says it is important for both sides to come to an agreement.

[16 February 2018 16:35 · Ashley Cowburn]

May says on the issue of the Irish border "we are all clear there will be no hard progress" - she says this was a central tenant of the agreement made between the UK and the EU 27 in the first round of negotiations.