Wolfgang Schaeuble | Adam Berry/Getty Images Wolfgang Schäuble: EU ‘ready to’ give UK more time on Brexit Europe will do ‘whatever we can’ to have close relations with Britain post-Brexit, Germany’s former finance minister says.

European countries would be open to granting the U.K. more time to negotiate Brexit if asked, said German parliament President Wolfgang Schäuble.

"I think if the U.K. asked for more time ... the rest of Europe would be ready to agree on that British demand," the former finance minister said in an interview with BBC Newsnight on Wednesday, adding that it is ultimately up to the British government to decide.

Asked if May could successfully manage Brexit, Schäuble said he "hoped so" and maintained that Europe "trust[s] the British government" and has to "respect the decision of the British people."

"I always had the understanding that Brexit would be very difficult to be managed and be delivered," he said. "The negotiations prove this."

Schäuble reiterated that it is his "personal dream" the U.K. would reverse course on Brexit. "I remain in some way dreaming that Brexit will not happen," he said, adding: "The future is always open."

Still, Brexit is not the "biggest problem" facing Europe today, according to Schäuble, who cited migration as the "real challenge" facing the Continent and said he is hopeful about Europe's future relationship with Britain.

"We will do whatever we can — whatever will be the final decision — to have the best and closest relations with the U.K. as possible," he said.