Britain’s new Prime Minister Theresa May is barely 10 days into her new role and already she has been given two clear and distinct opinions from Europe’s two biggest nations on how and when her United Kingdom should go about extracting itself from the European Union (EU). And whatever May’s own opinion may be, the two diverse opinions — one offered by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the other by French President Francois Hollande — certainly show that she and her triumvirate of Brexit ministers have their work cut out in following through on the will of 52 per cent of the British electorate to leave the EU.

May met Merkel and spelled out her desire to take a softly-softly approach to the Brexit negotiations. May indicated that she would not be willing to formally adopt Article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon — the only mechanism that allows for EU members to leave — until next year, thus setting the clock ticking on the two-year negotiation period for extrication talks. Merkel gave her tacit approval for this slow-and-easy approach, though it’s hard to know if she actually meant it as a sign of support to the new prime minister or is simply experienced enough at the top level of the European echelon to know that nothing moves quickly in Brussels anyway and that even the most minor of political plans moves at a painstakingly slow pace anyway.

The Brexit result has, however, caused widespread unease among Eurocrats in Brussels and getting on with the negotiations sooner rather than later and with harsh terms will at least deter others in the Netherlands, Poland and France from daring to split from the great EU experiment.

No sooner had May met Merkel and received the assurances she wanted over her slower withdrawal approach than she met with the French president. Hollande was coming from an earlier series of meetings with Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny. It’s his nation that will have to figure out how to introduce a land border with the United Kingdom and bear the brunt of migrants who would use that as a point of entry, as well as duty and tariff controls that would have to be enforced.

Hollande’s message to Britain was clear: There can be no free trade deal with Europe without the free movement of people. That free movement issue was a key reason for so many Britons to vote Leave. And the Brexit negotiations have to happen now — not at a time of May’s choosing.