Merkel says ready for Brexit talks, assumes UK sticking to its plan

Mr Oettinger said he believed that Mrs May's "Brexit means Brexit" mantra was still operative, but added that the Conservatives would have to decide how they wanted to conduct negotiations, adding: "Then we will see whether this sentence remains".

"At the same time, we say that we want to remain a good partner to Britain". The short of a majority in parliament made talks imbalanced and uncertain.

Jean-Claude Juncker, head of the European Commission, said he wanted discussions to proceed without delay, while Michel Barnier, the EU's chief negotiator for Brexit, said "negotiations should start when United Kingdom is ready".

The Czech prime minister said Friday that Britain should not be granted any extension on the two-year deadline for the Brexit talks.

Following a hung parliament in the snap election she called, Mrs May said she would form a minority government to deliver Brexit.

Donald Tusk, the former Polish premier who will oversee the process as chair of European Union national leaders' summits, also stressed there was "no time to lose" and a need for London and Brussels to cooperate to minimise disruption for people, businesses and governments across Europe when Britain walks out in 22 months.

EU Council President Donald Tusk told Britain in a Tweet: "Do your best to avoid a "no deal" as result of "no negotiations".

But in a catastrophic setback, the bet failed and she lost her overall majority.

Theresa May has confirmed she plans to stay on as Britain's prime minister to provide certainty to the country, with support from Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party.

"Maybe, this is a chance that we can come up to a more reasonable Brexit negotiations because in the last time (recently) I really had the feeling that everything was just being very tough and it doesn't make sense to be tough. We know when they must end", said Mr Tusk.

A breakdown in negotiations could mean Britain ceasing to be an European Union member without having in place the legal agreements that would avoid a chaotic limbo for people and businesses.

Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt, who is president of the Alliance of Liberals & Democrats for Europe in the European Parliament, had caustic words for Mrs May.

Michel Barnier, the EU's chief Brexit negotiator, indicated on Twitter that the European Union was prepared to show some patience, making it clear that talks should not begin until the political situation had settled in the UK.