Merkel: ‘Britain Has Illusions’ Over Brexit

BERLIN (AP) — German Chancellor Angela Merkel says that Britain will not retain the same rights and privileges it has now in the European Union when it leaves the bloc.

Merkel told Parliament on Thursday that even though for German lawmakers that may go without saying. “I need to make it clear here because I have the feeling that some in Britain still have illusions, and that is a waste of time.”

She said that while Europe still envisions Britain as a close partner, it will be an outsider and as such “can and will not have the same rights or be in a better position than a member of the European Union.”

“All of the 27 members of the European Union and European institutions are agreed upon that.”