Speaking at the EU summit in Brussels last night she said there were “encouraging” signs of progress in negotiations.
Lithuanian President Dalia Grybuskaitė echoed the sentiments, telling press this morning: “It was not expected to have a success [in Brexit negotiations] in this European Council, we hope [Theresa May] will be able to make a success in December.”
Ms Grybuskaitė added the tone of the negotiations needed to change, with leaders getting around the negotiating table rather than engaging in media grandstanding.
However other leaders have poured cold water on suggestions of a breakthrough, saying the matter of money must be settled first.
Dutch PM Mark Rutte said Britain should suggest its own figure for a Brexit divorce bill so talks don’t “keep going round in circles”.
He told reporters at the summit: “I suspect that if they want progress, the British government will have to tell us at the very least — if they don’t give us a number [for the Brexit bill] — how they think they will be able to get to a number, together with Europe. Otherwise we’ll keep going round in circles.”
Prime Minster Theresa May offered to pay the EU an £18 billion (€20 billion) divorce bill in a key speech delivered in Florence, Italy, in September.
But the offer has been slapped down by Antonio Tajani, former President of the European Parliament, who said the sum was “peanuts”.
The European Union politician demanded that Britain prepares a staggering £45 to £53 billion (€50 to €60 billion) into the EU’s coffers.
Despite the bitter dispute over money, Angela Merkel has admitted that she has “absolutely no doubts” that Britain can achieve a successful Brexit with a “good result”.
She said on Thursday she had no doubts that the EU and Britain could achieve a good result on Brexit.
The German Chancellor said: “I have absolutely no doubts that if we are all focused – and the speech in Florence was a contribution – that we can get a good result.
“From my side there are no indications at all that we won’t succeed.”
While Theresa May revealed last night: “Both sides have revealed subsequent rounds [of Brexit talks] will be conducted in a new spirit.
“There is increasingly a sense that we must work together to an outcome we can stand behind and defend to our people.”