Merkel rules out talk of future EU-UK relations

In a statement to German federal parliament on Thursday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she supported the EU's proposed line of negotiations to not address future relations between the EU and Britain before the Brexit conditions are clarified.

Ahead of the first European Union (EU) Brexit summit on April 29, Merkel outlined the conditions for Britain's withdrawal from the EU.

One such condition is the issue of pending financial obligations by Britain towards the EU which has to be resolved before any other framework for future relations can be discussed. The order in which these important issues need to be settled is "not reversible," Merkel said.

Merkel also stated that she feels many people in Britain are "under the illusion" that Britain, as third party, would retain the rights of a member state. British Brexit supporters have advertised the withdrawal from the EU, suggesting it would be possible to remove obligations while still profiting from the union.

The German chancellor said the goal would be preserving German interests in Britain and avoiding disadvantages to the EU, adding there was a "strong consensus concerning the course of negotiations with Great Britain" among the 27 remaining EU member states.

The 27 heads of state and government of the remaining EU member states will decide on a regulatory guideline concerning the Brexit negotiations this Saturday. This will be used as a basis for the negotiating mandate that the 27 states will give the European Commission, according to Merkel.