British should let go of illusions about brexit

berlin - German Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned the British that their country will not have the same rights as EU Member States after brexit. 'I have to make this clear because I feel that some people in Britain are still illusory,' said the Chancellor on Thursday in a speech to the Bundesliga, the German parliament.

'A third state, and that's what the United Kingdom will be, can and will not have the same rights as members of the European Union,' said Merkel. They further emphasized that protecting the interests of EU citizens in Britain will be an important point in the discussions about UK withdrawal from the EU.

British voters decided to withdraw their country from the EU in a referendum last year. According to Merkel, the negotiations on the brexit can not really start after the British parliamentary elections of 8 June. The Chancellor further said that the UK's financial commitments to the EU should be discussed at an early stage.