PM's phone calls with PM Sipilä of Finland and PM Solberg of Norway: 31 August 2016
Theresa May spoke with Prime Minister Sipilä and Prime Minister Solberg on the UK's relationship with the EU, and defence and security.
A Downing Street spokesperson said:
This morning the Prime Minister received phone calls from Prime Minister Sipilä of Finland and Prime Minister Solberg of Norway. Both leaders congratulated her on her appointment.
In the discussions the Prime Minister said that though the UK is leaving the EU, we are not turning our back on Europe and want to maintain a good relationship with the EU as well as individual European countries.
The Prime Minister explained that the UK will not trigger Article 50 before the end of the year, to give the UK and the EU time to prepare for negotiations and to help ensure that the process is as smooth as possible. The Prime Minister added that as we embark on those discussions, we should consider what is going to work best for the UK and what is going to work for the European Union, rather than necessarily pursuing an existing model.
The Prime Minister also said that, while the UK remains a member of the EU, we will play a full role, live up to our obligations and remain a strong supporter of free trade.
On defence and security the Prime Minister said that the UK will remain an outward facing and globally engaged nation, including through our membership of NATO.