WorldEurope

Actions

Theresa May Calls For 'Hard Brexit' — Here's What That Means

The U.K.'s prime minister laid out her plans for Brexit negotiations.
Posted at 3:07 PM, Jan 17, 2017

For the first time, the U.K.'s prime minister laid out her plan for leaving the European Union. And from the looks of it, it's going to be a "hard Brexit." 

"Not partial membership of the European Union, associate membership of the European Union or anything that leaves us half in, half out," Prime Minister Theresa May said. 

May wants to leave the EU's single market –– the one that promises free movement of goods, services and people. 

May wants to cut down on the flow of people and regain control over immigration in Britain. But she doesn't want to lose the free flow of goods between her country and others in the EU. 

But some EU members may not be as willing to negotiate. 

One analyst told CNN, "[May] is still trying to cherry pick ... and I think that's the problem. [German Chancellor] Angela Merkel has said very clearly on the other side of the fence, 'No cherry picking.'" 

Still, May was clear when she told her country, "No deal for Britain is better than a bad deal for Britain." Parliament will vote on the deal once it's negotiated with the EU.