Berlin, June 29 (IANS): German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday received British Prime Minister Theresa May here for a short bilateral meeting ahead of the arrival of other European leaders for the G20 summit in July.

Merkel greeted May at the Federal Chancellery in the German capital and the two leaders held a meeting in which Brexit featured prominently on the agenda, Efe news reported.

The two leaders met ahead of the arrival of French President Emmanuel Macron, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and the Presidents of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, and the European Council, Donald Tusk, for the G20 meet on July 7-8.

Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, the Netherlands leader Mark Rutte and Norway's Prime Minister Erna Solberg were also headed to Berlin or the summit.

With regards to Britain's withdrawal from the EU, Merkel told German lawmakers in Parliament earlier in the day that the EU's priority was its own future.

"The EU was prepared and united to take on Brexit negotiations with the UK," Merkel said.