Brexit: 'the sooner, the better,' says French president

PARIS

The Brexit should happen and "the sooner the better," President Francois Hollande has told British Prime Minister Theresa May on Thursday.

Speaking at a joint press conference in Paris, Hollande said France will not seek to inflict a "penalty" on Britain for leaving the European Union.

“The U.K. has decided to leave the EU [...] and we respect that decision,” he said. “The sooner the better in the common interest [...] because uncertainty is the greatest danger."

Hollande continued : "We would like it to be reflected in the best possible timescale to open a negotiation to establish what will be the relationship between the U.K. and European Union.”

Theresa May said the U.K. would not invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, triggering Britain's EU withdrawal, this year.

“We both recognize the importance of preparing for Article 50 so the negotiations can be as orderly as possible," she said. "I hope we can make most of next six months.”

Both leaders also said they agreed that border controls at Calais would remain stay because it benefitted both U.K. and France.

In June, British voters decided by a narrow margin, and against their government’s advice, to leave the EU in a referendum.