That was how the European commission president replied to a journalist asking about Theresa May’s Brexit comments during her first European council meeting. And it highlighted how for May the European council, like other events with her counterparts on the continent since the EU referendum, provided a somewhat awkward encounter. May’s promise that Britain will control immigration while keeping maximum economic access was given short shrift. A source at No 10 claimed the leader even stressed that Brexit brought some opportunities. National leaders often rely on the EU institutions to deliver tough messages on their red lines that they prefer not to deliver in a one-to-one chat.

Source: The Guardian October 21, 2016 12:07 UTC