British Prime Minister, Theresa May has once again
reiterated a strong and lasting relationship with the EU as the UK prepares to
leave the union.
While in Baharain, the PM emphasized that Britain pursuing
an “ambitious” new Brexit trade agreement that will of immense benefit to both
the UK and EU, and not to mimic positions any present trade deal between them.
Speaking to reporters onboard RAF Voyager en route to
Bahrain, Mrs May maintained she wants to see “a strong European Union” even
after the UK’s departure, in the wake of the Italian referendum which saw the
resignation of the country’s Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.
“I’ve always said I want us to have a strong relationship
with the EU, with the 27 members,” she said. “I think it’s in UK interests to
have a strong EU and have a relationship with a strong EU.”
Surprisingly, it was noticed that the PM never rule out the
suggestion made by Brexit Secretary David Davis, which says that the Britain would
consider paying to retain single market access, nonetheless said the UK would
not seek to automatically carry over any aspects of the pre-Brexit
relationship.
“Crucially this is not about how retain bits of what we’ve
already got, but what our new relationship is, and I think our relationship is
not the UK as a supplicant into the EU,” she said. “I want the deal that’s
right for the UK and for the EU.”
May said the referendum vote on 23 June meant people voted
to “take control of our money and how we spend our money” when asked about the
possibility of paying EU budget contributions. “We want to get the best
possible deal on trade.”
“And I’m ambitious in that, because I think it’s not just in
our interests to have a good deal on trade with and operations within the
single market, I think it’s in the interests of European businesses who want to
have access to the UK market as well. So I’m ambitious that we can go out there
and get that deal.”
Future trade ties with Gulf States are high on the agenda
for the prime minister during six bilateral she will host with regional
leaders, including Saudi’s King Salman, and May is expected to agree with Gulf
leaders to establish a new joint working group to examine unblocking existing
trade barriers.
The PM also said she anticipated negotiations would be “very
complex” after the triggering of Article 50, the two-year formal process for
exiting the EU. Much of the focus on her visit to the Gulf will be security
co-operation, which the government is understood to believe to be a key upper
hand in negotiations with the EU.
“Obviously, there are going to be aspects of the negotiation
that will go into justice and home affairs, how we co-operate on a number of
issues where we will be considering what the future relationship between the UK
and Europe will be,” May said.
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