Merkel slaps down May on Brexit talks

Brussels

GERMAN Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday insisted that the EU's future took priority over Brexit talks as Prime Minister Theresa May met European leaders for the first time since a disastrous election gamble.

Under intense pressure on all sides since losing her majority, Ms May said her task at the Brussels summit would be to set out her plans to protect EU citizens' post-Brexit rights.

But Europe's most powerful leader made clear that this was not at the top of her agenda as she reaffirmed Berlin's strong ties with France and its newly elected President Emmanuel Macron.

"For me, the shaping of the fut…