UK PM May calls for gradual Brexit

The new British leader, on a tour of European capitals after taking office earlier this month, talked of a gradual approach to Britain's renegotiated relationship with the 28-member bloc.

"It will take time to work out the nature of our relationship," May said on a visit to Rome. "And that's why we should take time for these negotiations so that both sides can identify their objectives and opportunities."

May promised to guarantee the rights of the hundreds of thousands of Italians living in the UK. "I want to be able to guarantee their rights in the UK. I expect to be able to do that and I intend to be able to do that, to guarantee their rights," said May.

But, she said, on condition - as is the case now - that the rights of UK citizens working in the EU are guaranteed.

"The only circumstances in which that would not be possible would be if the rights of British citizens living in other EU countries would not be guaranteed," she said.

"We should be developing the model that suits the UK and the EU, not adopting necessarily a model that's on the shelf already," she asserted.

May said negotiations will not start before year's end. France and Germany have urged Britain be given time to mull its exit path.

Renzi wants Brexit accelerated

Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said Italy wants a clear timeline be established to remove what he called "Brexit-related uncertainty."

"For us it's important to give a message of a clear timeline to avoid the risks," Renzi said, adding that Rome regretted the decision to leave, not least for its potential impact on some 600,000 Italians living in Britain. "But it is the British people's decision and we respect it," said Renzi.

May reassured him on an issue affecting about three million British-based EU nationals as well as around 1.3 million Britons.

She visits Poland on Thursday aiming to assuage Polish concerns on the future of 790,000 Poles working in the UK.

Meanwhile, The Financial Times newspaper reported on Wednesday that international trade minister Liam Fox wants May to pull out of the EU customs union, where there is free movement of goods but where tariffs are imposed on external borders.

May said Brexit would not reduce "friendship" or "cooperation" on fighting terrorism and on migration.

jbh/kms (AFP, Reuters)