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Sigmar Gabriel, the German foreign minister, suggested the bloc are willing to make concessions, including ending the jurisdiction of the EU court over the UK. Mr Gabriel said: “Perhaps there is now a chance to achieve a so-called soft Brexit.” The EU are willing to compromise because they are worried that a weakened Mrs May increases the risk a deal will not be achieved, which could threaten millions of job across the Brussels bloc.

GETTY EU officials are worried that a weakened Theresa May will be unable to strike a Brexit deal

An EU negotiator said: “It is the greatest uncertainty as we begin. Will the Prime Minister still be there at key decision moments over the summer? “A weak Government like this increases the risk of there being no deal at the end of the process. We do not want to be the ones making the situation more difficult.” Mr Gabriel said some within the EU are angry about Mrs May’s decision to hold a snap election as it has ended up creating a “difficult, even impossible situation, without clear majorities and clear negotiation strategy”.

Nigel Farage fumes at Theresa May on GMB Fri, June 9, 2017 Former UKIP Leader Nigel Farage has expressed his fury at Prime Minister Theresa May over the general election, saying that it has now led to a backslide on Brexit. Play slideshow ITV•Getty 1 of 8 General Election 2017: Nigel Farage FUMES at Theresa May

Those who created such chaos would have long since gone Sigmar Gabriel, the German foreign minister

Mr Gabriel, a close ally of Angela Merkel added: “Here, those who created such chaos would have long since gone. We will negotiate fairly, and fair means that we want to keep the British as close as possible to the EU but never at the price that we divide the remaining 27 EU states.” He claimed the UK would have to allow free movement to access the single market but did say the EU are willing to reduce the jurisdiction of EU judges in Britain. He offed the concession of “a joint court that is staffed by Europeans and Britons which in principle follows the decisions of the European Court of Justice”.

A potential stumbling block in Brexit negotiations is whether a unique customs deal can be made to prevent a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Irish republic. A diplomatic source said: “Doing a deal on Ireland and preserving the Good Friday agreement might be the way the Government quietly changes direction with a new agreement that will also be the template for the wider one with the EU.”

GETTY The German foreign minister suggested the EU are willing to make concessions

GETTY The Brexit secretary will start negotiations today with Michel Barnier