UK, Hungary vow to continue strong ties post Brexit

LONDON

Prime Minister Theresa May has reiterated her government's will to trigger Article 50 to initiate Britain’s exit from the EU.

In remarks made during a bilateral meeting with her Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban at the government offices, May said: “We will play a full and active role in the EU until we leave.”

A statement released by the Downing Street said the two leaders “noted the strength of the bilateral relationship between the U.K. and Hungary, and that this would continue once the U.K. had left the EU.”

About the rights of EU citizens living in the U.K., May said “she wants and expects to protect the status of EU nationals” in return of the same treatment by the EU countries for British nationals who live in those countries, the statement said.

The two leaders also spoke the about migration crisis in Europe.

“We should ensure that refugees are hosted in the first safe country of transit; that we distinguish between refugees and economic migrants; and that all states have the rights and responsibilities to control their borders and accept returned illegal migrants,” May said.