FLORENCE, ITALY – British Prime Minister Theresa May proposed a two-year implementation period after Britain leaves the EU in March 2019 in a hotly awaited speech in Florence seeking to break the deadlock in Brexit negotiations.
Outside an imposing 14th century church Santa Maria Novella in the centre of the Tuscan city, protesters waved EU flags and posters showing May holding a burning passport.
May said that a Brexit implementation period is in the interest of both the UK and the EU. During this period, the UK would stay in the single market and pay its “fair share” into the EU budget.
She said Britain may be leaving the EU, “but we are not leaving Europe” adding that UK wants to be EU’s “strongest friend and partner”.
She added that the rights of EU citizens in the UK will be fully guaranteed after Brexit and proposes to incorporate agreement fully into UK law and make sure UK courts can refer directly to it.
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