Negotiations are set to begin in just nine days, with the German chancellor saying the European Union wants talks to progress "quickly" despite United Kingdom politcians still reeling from Thursday's shock election result.
May, who became prime minister after Britain's June 2016 referendum on leaving the European Union, called the election three years early in a bid to strengthen her hand in the looming Brexit negotiations.
Concerns grew that Brexit negotiations could be put on hold after Britain's Conservative Party failed to secure a majority in Parliament and a clear mandate in the snap election Thursday.
"We want to negotiate quickly, we want to stick to the time plan, and so at this point I don't think there is anything to suggest these negotiations can not start as was agreed".
In Brussels on Wednesday Barnier instead met Olly Robbins, a senior official in Davis's ministry, and Britain's ambassador to the EU Tim Barrow to discuss arrangements for the talks following the election shock.
"Britain is a member of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, so we have a lot of shared challenges to deal with, and that's the spirit we want to carry out these negotiations in. We will defend the interests of the 27 member states, and Britain will defend its own interests", she told a press conference.
Oklahoma jail escape: 4 on the run, including murder suspect
The prisoners were identified as Brian Allen Moody, 23, Sonny Baker, 41, Trey Goodnight, 27 and Jeremy Tyson Irvin, 31. The breakout happened between 1am and 4am Monday at the Lincoln County Jail near Oklahoma City, according to ABC News .
On Friday, European Council president Donald Tusk warned Mrs May there is "no time to lose".
The UK's election result could delay negotiations with the European Union over its exit from the bloc and throws the future path of its economic policy into doubt.
Brussels' chief negotiator Michel Barnier said Brexit talks could wait until the new government was ready.
The Prime Minister has insisted the Brexit talks will proceed as planned despite the Conservatives losing their majority.
British politicians differ widely on what they want from the Brexit negotiating process, seeing it as a way to shift Britain either to the right or left.
Ireland's prime minister-elect Leo Varadkar said the election result was an opportunity for Ireland.
Comments