Prime Minister Theresa May urged the European Union on Friday to show more flexibility in talks on its future relationship with the U.K. after Brexit, saying Britain realizes it cannot get all it wants but believes an ambitious trade deal is still possible.

In a much-anticipated speech, May set out ambitions for a tailor-made free trade deal that would include financial services and said Britain would aim for associate membership in EU regulators covering chemicals, medicines and aerospace.

Jettisoning an earlier strident view that Britain could walk away from the talks, May appealed to the EU to work together to solve some of the more difficult Brexit problems, including over Ireland, where some fear the return of a "hard border" with the British province of Northern Ireland after Brexit.