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Hollande will tell Theresa May he wants Brexit talks to begin soon Hollande will tell Theresa May he wants Brexit talks to begin soon
(about 1 hour later)
French President Francois Hollande will tell Theresa May he wants to start talks on the UK's exit from the EU as soon as possible, when they meet later.French President Francois Hollande will tell Theresa May he wants to start talks on the UK's exit from the EU as soon as possible, when they meet later.
The UK's new prime minister has said she does not want to start the formal Brexit process until 2017.The UK's new prime minister has said she does not want to start the formal Brexit process until 2017.
But Mr Hollande has rejected any "pre-negotiations" - and said the UK could not access the EU free market without accepting free movement of people.But Mr Hollande has rejected any "pre-negotiations" - and said the UK could not access the EU free market without accepting free movement of people.
Mr Hollande will host Mrs May at a working dinner at the Elysee Palace.Mr Hollande will host Mrs May at a working dinner at the Elysee Palace.
It comes after she held talks about Brexit with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin.It comes after she held talks about Brexit with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin.
She said a "sensible and orderly departure" from the EU would take time, while Mrs Merkel said both sides wanted the "best result for Britain".She said a "sensible and orderly departure" from the EU would take time, while Mrs Merkel said both sides wanted the "best result for Britain".
BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said such encounters were currently at a "getting to know you" stage, with EU leaders waiting to see what the UK wants to achieve from the negotiations.BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said such encounters were currently at a "getting to know you" stage, with EU leaders waiting to see what the UK wants to achieve from the negotiations.
The French president may prove to be a "more awkward customer" for Mrs May than the German chancellor, she added.The French president may prove to be a "more awkward customer" for Mrs May than the German chancellor, she added.
Speaking in Dublin, after talks with Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny, Mr Hollande said: "I will meet Theresa May tonight. That will be the opportunity to hear the arguments. What is the interest of delaying? I would like justifications."Speaking in Dublin, after talks with Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny, Mr Hollande said: "I will meet Theresa May tonight. That will be the opportunity to hear the arguments. What is the interest of delaying? I would like justifications."
In a joint statement with with Mr Kenny, he urged rapid Brexit talks said he would speak to Mrs Merkel after his meeting with Mrs May in Paris later. In a joint statement with Mr Kenny, he urged rapid Brexit talks said he would speak to Mrs Merkel after his meeting with Mrs May in Paris later.
He said there should be no pre-negotiations before full and formal exit talks and added: "Access to the single market cannot be guaranteed unless free movement of workers is respected."He said there should be no pre-negotiations before full and formal exit talks and added: "Access to the single market cannot be guaranteed unless free movement of workers is respected."
Pascal Lamy, a former World Trade Organization director general who was also chief of staff to ex-EU Commission president Jacques Delors, also said European leaders wanted to know what Mrs May was looking for.Pascal Lamy, a former World Trade Organization director general who was also chief of staff to ex-EU Commission president Jacques Delors, also said European leaders wanted to know what Mrs May was looking for.
"What sort of relationship do you have in mind with the European Union?" he asked."What sort of relationship do you have in mind with the European Union?" he asked.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Lamy said the talks could not be restricted to trade, with agreements also needed on matters like defence, diplomacy and environmental protection.Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Lamy said the talks could not be restricted to trade, with agreements also needed on matters like defence, diplomacy and environmental protection.
But he stressed that the UK would not have the same "easy access" to the EU single market from outside the union.But he stressed that the UK would not have the same "easy access" to the EU single market from outside the union.
Mr Lamy stood by his claim, made before the referendum, that to say the UK could continue trading freely in the EU without accepting the free movement of people was "pie in the sky".Mr Lamy stood by his claim, made before the referendum, that to say the UK could continue trading freely in the EU without accepting the free movement of people was "pie in the sky".
He said: "It's pretty clear to me... that a country outside Europe not accepting free movement will not have access to the single market like an EU country."He said: "It's pretty clear to me... that a country outside Europe not accepting free movement will not have access to the single market like an EU country."
Analysis by the BBC's Gavin HewittAnalysis by the BBC's Gavin Hewitt
Francois Hollande wants the UK to pay a price for leaving the EU.Francois Hollande wants the UK to pay a price for leaving the EU.
His instinct is partly driven by the need to undermine support for Marine Le Pen, who wants to hold a similar referendum in France.His instinct is partly driven by the need to undermine support for Marine Le Pen, who wants to hold a similar referendum in France.
The French have also been openly lobbying UK banks and financial companies to relocate inside the eurozone and in particular to Paris.The French have also been openly lobbying UK banks and financial companies to relocate inside the eurozone and in particular to Paris.
It has been a long-standing French interest to weaken the City of London.It has been a long-standing French interest to weaken the City of London.
Even so, he will want the increasingly close defence relationship with the UK to continue.Even so, he will want the increasingly close defence relationship with the UK to continue.
It may prove helpful that the UK referendum vote appears to be deterring voters elsewhere in Europe from following the same path.It may prove helpful that the UK referendum vote appears to be deterring voters elsewhere in Europe from following the same path.
Read more from GavinRead more from Gavin
On Wednesday, at a joint press conference with Mrs Merkel, 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".On Wednesday, at a joint press conference with Mrs Merkel, 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".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."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.""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".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".
The German chancellor said the two countries had "similar convictions and values" and she was determined to proceed in the "spirit of unity and friendship" that characterised Anglo-German relations.The German chancellor said the two countries had "similar convictions and values" and she was determined to proceed in the "spirit of unity and friendship" that characterised Anglo-German relations.
A Downing Street source said the government was "encouraged" by the tone of the talks and the subsequent working dinner in the German chancellery.A Downing Street source said the government was "encouraged" by the tone of the talks and the subsequent working dinner in the German chancellery.
"There was a free flowing conversation in the bilateral talks and the dinner," the source said. "The two established a personal connection and relationship and the communication channels are now open.""There was a free flowing conversation in the bilateral talks and the dinner," the source said. "The two established a personal connection and relationship and the communication channels are now open."