Merkel says EU ready to start Brexit negotiations

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that she can see no obstacles in the way of starting Brexit negotiations as scheduled after UK Prime Minister Theresa May announced plans to form a minority government.

Merkel told reporters in Mexico City on Friday: “I assume that Britain, from what I heard from the Prime Minister today, wants to stick to its negotiating plan.

“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 cannot start as was agreed."

She added that she hoped the UK would remain a good partner after the negotiations.

"Britain is part of Europe, even if it will no longer be part of the European Union."

However, she insisted the EU countries would be "asserting the interests of the 27 member states that will make up the European Union in future" during negotiations.

Theresa May was re-appointed UK Prime Minister on Friday, but her Conservative Party lost 13 seats in Friday’s snap election, leaving it eight MPs short of a parliamentary majority.

May says she will form a government with the support of the Democratic Unionist Party from Northern Ireland, which won 10 seats.

Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt, who is president of the Alliance of Liberals & Democrats for Europe in the European Parliament, had caustic words for May after the snap election.

"Yet another own goal, after Cameron now May, will make already complex negotiations even more complicated," he tweeted.

European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker said he wanted Brexit discussions to proceed without delay, while Michel Barnier, the EU's chief negotiator for Brexit, said "negotiations should start when UK is ready".

European Council President Donald Tusk alluded to the March 2019 deadline for Brexit talks.

"We don't know when Brexit talks start. We know when they must end. Do your best to avoid a 'no deal' as result of 'no