Theresa May tells Emmanuel Macron she wants new EU deal talks to start before Brexit ‘divorce bill’ agreed
PM used first one-to-one meeting with new French President to press for her preferred method for upcoming negotiations
THERESA May has told the new French President Emmanuel Macron she wants talks on a new deal for Britain with the EU without waiting for an agreement on so-called Brexit "divorce bill”.
The Prime Minister used her first one-to-one meeting with him since he took office earlier this month to press for her preferred method for the upcoming negotiations.
During the French elections, Mr Macron took a tough line on Brexit, backing the stance of Brussels leaders who are insisting there must be progress on settling the terms of the UK's departure - including the financial settlement - before talks on a new deal can start.
Mrs May characterised their discussions, which took place on the margins of the G7 summit in Taormina, Sicily as "good, productive and constructive".
But she did not make clear whether she had obtained any concessions from the French president when she spoke at a press conference shortly before leaving Italy.
The PM said: "The relationship that the UK has with France is an important one for us.
"We have very clear co-operation on a whole range of areas, including on our security and on defence matters.
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"As regards Brexit, I'm very clear and I remain clear that under the treaty we have up to two years to negotiate withdrawal and the future relationship.
“When we leave the EU it's important that we know not just the withdrawal terms but what that future relationship will be, which of course will cover trade - we want a comprehensive free trade agreement - but also cover co-operation in other areas as well."
Downing Street said Mrs May had also raised the issue of the future rights of EU nationals living in Britain and British nationals living in the EU after Brexit with Mr Macron.
A spokesman said: "She also made clear that Britain and the 27 EU member states should be discussing our future relationship with the EU at the same time as discussing the terms of our withdrawal."
No 10 said the French president offered support for Mrs May's plans set out at the G7 to pressure tech companies like Facebook and Google to do more to take down "harmful" extremist content from the internet.
The spokesman added: "They agreed on the need for collective action by the G7 to stop the spread of poisonous material and propaganda on the internet that is leading people down the path towards terrorism.”