A hard Brexit would be "fatal" for industry, a group of leading European business representatives have warned Theresa May during talks in London on Monday. They urged the British Prime Minister to provide clarity over the future trading relationship between the UK and the EU and to speed up the process, DW reported.

May spoke about "the mutual importance of maintaining and developing the strong connection between EU and UK markets" at the meeting at Downing Street. She reiterated her plan to agree a Brexit implementation period of two years from March 2019, with international businesses becoming increasingly vocal in recent weeks over fears that Britain could leave the EU without a trade deal.

The government is under pressure to meet a two-week deadline set by the EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier on Friday for a deal on exit terms ahead of the December EU summit.

Representatives from the Federation of German industry (BDI), Federation of German Employers (BDA) and the Mouvement des entreprises de France (MEDEF) were among the attendees, that also included 15 business groups from Italy, France, Spain, Belgium and Sweden.

Britain's Brexit Secretary David Davis and Business Secretary Greg Clark also attended, with the meeting coming amid speculation that May faces a vote of no confidence from her own party.