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Angela Merkel warns Britain: 'Don't delude yourself over Brexit'

Angela Merkel warned Britons today not to delude themselves that they can continue to enjoy EU rights after Brexit.

The German Chancellor said that there should be ‘no illusions’ among British politicians that they would receive any special treatment, and insisted the bloc would only agree on future ties with London after they have nailed down a deal to leave.

Angela Merkel said there should be
Angela Merkel said there should be “no illusions” among UK politicians that the UK will receive special treatment over Brexit. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Striking a firm tone in a speech to the Bundestag lower house of parliament before a weekend summit on Brexit, Merkel also said talks on Britain’s financial obligations to the EU would have to be addressed early on in the talks.

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“A third state, and that’s what Britain will be, cannot and will not have at its disposal the same rights … as members of the European Union,” Merkel, the EU’s most influential leader, told lawmakers.

“I must say this clearly here because I get the feeling that some people in Britain still have illusions.”

Angela Merkel is seen on a monitor as she declares Germany's position on negotiations Brexit (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Angela Merkel is seen on a monitor as she declares Germany’s position on negotiations Brexit (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Arguing that the Brexit talks would only really get going after Britain’s June 8 parliamentary election, Merkel stressed several times that all 27 remaining EU members agreed that the divorce settlement must be sorted out first.

“We can only do an agreement on the future relationship with Britain when all questions about its exit have been cleared up satisfactorily,” she said.

Merkel, a conservative who will seek a fourth term as German chancellor in an election on Sept. 24, said one priority would be to protect the interests of EU citizens living in Britain, including 100,000 Germans.

She said she was ready to make “a fair offer” to Britons in Germany if it was reciprocal.

Merkel also said the talks would require a lot of effort in the next two years but expressed confidence that the EU side was ready.

“In terms of substance and organization, we are very well prepared,” she said.