EU negotiator says UK will have 18 months to strike Brexit deal

Britain will have less than 18 months to negotiate its exit from the European Union once talks begin and won't be allowed to pick and choose what it likes, the EU's chief Brexit negotiator said Tuesday as he outlined his stance for the first time.


Michel Barnier said formal procedures like parliamentary approvals across Europe will cut into the two-year period that Britain was expecting to have to negotiate the terms of its exit.

"Time will be short. It is clear that the period of actual negotiations will be shorter than two years," Barnier said in his first press conference since taking up the post.
 [france24.com]
6/12/16
-
Related:

• Brexit case to be heard by Britain's supreme court
• EU Values/Ethos: UK cannot 'have cake and eat it' on Brexit, Luxembourg PM to AFP
• British PM says Brexit keeps her awake at night
• Brexit preparations are on track, May tells Merkel