Speaking about her Brexit plan in Florence the Prime Minister made a commitment to continue working in ways “that promote the long-term economic development of the continent”.
To this end, she said the UK would want to continue to take part in specific policies and programmes, such as educational and culture, “which are greatly to the UK and the EU’s joint advantage”.
May also promised the UK would honour financial commitments made during the period of its membership of the union, and set out plans for a two-year Brexit implementation period.
In response President Donald Tusk said ‘I feel cautiously optimistic about the constructive and more realistic tone of the Prime Minister’s speech in Florence… But of course no-one will ever tell me that Brexit is a good thing because, as I have always said, in fact Brexit is only about damage control, and I didn’t change my opinion’.