Merkel urges speedy Brexit talks after UK vote

May's Conservatives have lost their majority in parliament, party members blamed what one called a " just awful" campaign, training their ire on an election team that highlighted the 60-year-old's flaws by sticking doggedly to an agreed script instead of masking her weaknesses.

"My preoccupation is that time is passing, it is passing quicker than anyone believes because the subjects we have to deal with are extraordinarily complex", he said, pointing out next month three months will have passed since the triggering of Article 50 and no progress has been made.

"And from everything I have heard from Britain today, they will respect their negotiations calendar".

"We want to have a fair deal with Britain and we want to have a fair final Brexit negotiations".

- The EU's Brexit chief met British officials on Monday, June 12 to try to hammer out a date for the start of formal talks, as concerns grew that negotiations could be delayed by the fallout from Britain's chaotic election, AFP reports. We know when they must end.

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

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.

Speaking at a news conference in Mexico, Merkel said she expected Britain's Brexit talks to begin as planned despite the result of the General Election which left the Conservative party without a majority.

Michel Barnier's remit is to negotiate exit terms, including the UK's divorce bill and the status of European Union citizens in the UK.