UK wants to be your strongest friend - British PM to people in Poland
"At this important moment, my message to people in Poland and across the EU is clear – in the years ahead, the United Kingdom wants to be your strongest friend and partner", British PM Theresa May wrote in a statement for PAP.
"This is a critical period in the history of the United Kingdom's relationship with the European Union. At this important moment, my message to people in Poland and across the EU is clear – in the years ahead, the United Kingdom wants to be your strongest friend and partner. We want to see the EU and the UK thrive together, side by side", she wrote.
The British PM stressed that "our decision to leave the institution of the European Union was a statement about how we want our democracy to work".
"The British people want more direct control of the decisions that affect their daily lives, and that means those decisions being made in Britain, by those who are directly accountable to the British people", Theresa May went on to say.
At the same time she declared that "we are still proud to be a member of the European family of nations. We are not turning our back on Europe and we know that a successful EU is profoundly in our own interest, and that of the whole world".
Writing to the Polish people a day after her address in Florence, PM May emphasised that "one of my first goals in these negotiations" is to secure the rights of EU citizens in Great Britain, including a million of Polish citizens.
"I repeat to all EU citizens who have made their lives in Britain: we want you to stay, we value you, and we thank you for your contribution to our national life. One of my first goals in these negotiations is to ensure that you can carry on living your lives here as before. I want to incorporate our agreement on citizens’ rights fully into UK law. No one should doubt the independence of our courts or the rigour with which they will uphold individuals' legal rights", PM May explained.
The British prime minister also promised that "Britain will always stand with our friends and allies in defence of the values of liberty, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Our decision to leave the European Union is in no way a repudiation of this longstanding commitment. That also applies to our commitment to Europe's security".
"The United Kingdom has the biggest defence budget in Europe and one of the largest development budgets in the World. We have a far reaching diplomatic network, and world class security, intelligence and law enforcement services. We want to carry on working as closely as possible with the EU, protecting our citizens, promoting our values and ensuring the security of our continent. So we are proposing a bold new strategic agreement that provides a comprehensive framework for future security, law enforcement and criminal justice co-operation: a treaty between the UK and the EU".
PM May declared that "the United Kingdom is unconditionally committed to maintaining Europe's security. We will continue to offer aid and assistance to EU member states that are the victims of armed aggression, terrorism and natural or manmade disasters".
Theresa May also said that Britain's departure from the EU would not take place at the expense of the EU's largest net beneficiaries, including Poland.
"We also want to give certainty to remaining EU members like Poland over the EU Budget. Some of the claims made on this issue are exaggerated and unhelpful and we can only resolve this as part of the settlement of all the wider issues. But I do not want our partners to fear that they will need to pay more or receive less over the remainder of the current budget plan as a result of our decision to leave. So I have made it clear that the UK will honour commitments we have made during the period of our membership", she wrote.
"If we continue our negotiations in a spirit of partnership and friendship, then I believe we can resolve our disagreements respectfully and quickly. That way, this period of our European history will record not a relationship ended, but a new partnership begun. It will be the beginning of a shared future, with the UK and the EU working side by side to deliver prosperity and opportunity for all our people", PM May concluded. (PAP)
