MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

PM May announces in Germany negotiations for an “orderly departure” from EU this year

PM May said UK was in no rush to trigger the exit process, which although “this would not please everyone” it was right to hold off until the UK “objectives were clear”.

Prime Minister Theresa May has said the UK will not begin official negotiations on leaving the EU this year as she held talks with Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel. Speaking in Berlin on Wednesday, the PM said securing a “sensible and orderly departure” from the EU would take time, but she insisted the UK would not “walk away” from Europe and wanted to retain the “closest economic links”.

 Mrs. Merkel said the two sides desired to get the “best result for Britain” but urged more clarity on timing. Earlier, a military guard of honor greeted Mrs May, who succeeded David Cameron a week ago.

At a joint press conference, Mrs. May said the UK was in no rush to trigger the two-year process of leaving the EU - telling reporters that although “this would not please everyone” it was right to hold off until the UK's “objectives were clear”.

The process of preparing the UK for Brexit would require “serious and detailed work” but, irrespective of this, she said the UK was determined to maintain strong trading, economic and security links with Germany, which she described as “a vital partner and special friend”.

“Of course, the nature of our relationship is going to change as the UK leaves the EU, but we both want to maintain the closest possible economic relationship between our countries and I believe that is what German and British businesses want too,” she said.

“So it's good that we start from such a strong foundation and a position where both our countries believe in liberal markets and free trade and these should be the principles that guide us in the discussions ahead.”

Asked how they had got on at their first meeting, Mrs. May said they were two women who want to “get on with the job and deliver the best possible results for the people of the UK and Germany”.

Mrs. Merkel said she did not expect there to be any formal negotiations at this stage and it was “understandable” the UK needed a period of time to prepare.

But she said there was a need for a “certain timeline” with regard to Britain's exit and hoped the UK would begin to “define its principles” with regard to the process of activating Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, the official, legal mechanism for leaving.

“We have to listen to what Britain wants and find what the right answer is,” she said. “Britain does not want an impasse, Germany does not want an impasse and the EU does not want an impasse”.

It has emerged that the UK prime minister presented two books on the British outdoors to her German counterpart as a birthday present, reflecting their shared interest in hiking.

The gifts for Mrs. Merkel, who turned 62 on Sunday, were a new edition of Coast To Coast With Wainwright - a pictorial guide to illustrate Alfred Wainwright's walking route between northern England's west and east coasts - and a copy of Great Mountain Days In Snowdonia, which includes a guide to walks in the National Park.

PM May is due to have talks with France's Francois Hollande on Thursday. Ahead of the visits - Mrs. May's first overseas trips as prime minister - Downing Street announced the UK was to relinquish its upcoming six-month presidency of the Council of the EU.

The UK had been scheduled to take up the presidency of the Council of the EU - which rotates on a six-monthly basis between the 28 EU countries, giving each the opportunity to shape the agenda - in the second half of 2017.

But Mrs. May has decided that Britain should skip its turn in the light of the Brexit vote in June's referendum.