WARSAW, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo and her British counterpart Theresa May discussed Brexit in a telephone conversation Friday, said Polish government spokesperson Rafal Bochenek.
"During the conversation, Prime Minister Szydlo said Poland expected that in the first phase of the negotiations, adequate guarantees would be worked out for the rights of United Kingdom-based Polish nationals," Bochenek told Polish Press Agency.
The spokesman added matters relating to the EU budget also had to be thrashed out early. Bochenek underlined that Poland was especially keen to see Britain meet its existing financial obligations.
"So the Polish government recognizes it is sensible to talk about an interim period, as long as it leads to Britain fully meeting these responsibilities," the spokesman explained.
"Both Poland and Britain would like the negotiations to proceed smoothly and without obstacles," he added.
Earlier on Friday, May delivered a speech in the Italian city of Florence, setting out her plans for Brexit negotiations and future relations between her country and the EU.
In her speech, the British prime minister said London wanted UK-based EU nationals, including a million Polish people, to remain in the country, and for their rights to be enshrined in British law. She also announced despite Brexit, which is to be completed by end of March 2019, Britain would honor obligations it made while being an EU member.
