Berlin: German Chancellor Angela Merkel today told Britain that it should not expect any special treatment in 'Brexit' talks with European Union (EU).
"We'll ensure that negotiations don't take place according to the principle of cherry-picking ... It must and will make a noticeable difference whether a country wants to be a member of the family of the European Union or not," Angela Merkel said while addressing the German parliament before leaving for Brussels for talks on Britain's decision to leave the European Union (EU).
What Merkel was actually hinting to Britain was that It should not expect access to a single market without accepting principles like free movement when it negotiates its exit from the bloc.
"Whoever wants to leave this family can't expect to do away with all of its responsibilities while keeping the privileges," Merkel added.
"Countries that want access to the single market must accept the principles and obligations that go with them. That applies to Great Britain as well as everyone else," she added.
Merkel further reminded Britain that Norway had free access to the single market despite not being an EU member because, in return, it accepts free migration from the Europen Union among other things.
The German Chancellor also said that it was for Britain to initiate the next steps to leave the EU before any informal or formal negotiations with EU could begin.
"I can only advise our British friends not to fool themselves ... in terms of the necessary decisions that need to be made in Britain," Merkel said.
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