European Union hints that Brexit talks may not start on time
European Commission spokesman Alexander Winterstein said negotiations with the British government over the country's exit from the bloc may not start next week,
- World
- AP
- Published Date: 12:00 | 12 June 2017
- Modified Date: 03:27 | 12 June 2017
The European Union's executive arm has indicated that negotiations with the British government over the country's exit from the bloc may not start next week as planned.
European Commission spokesman Alexander Winterstein said "we are quite confident" that technical talks "can start soon, maybe even this week."
However, when asked about whether the Brexit talks would start for real on June 19 as planned, Winterstein said: "I cannot say. This doesn't depend entirely on us."
Prime Minister Theresa May is trying to thrash out details of a parliamentary arrangement with a party from Northern Ireland to get her the votes to run a minority government after last week's election, which saw her Conservative Party lose its majority. Already there are expectations that the Queen's Speech, which would outline the government's legislative agenda for next year, will be delayed from next Monday.
In March, before calling the election, May triggered the two-year timetable for Britain to leave the EU.