The commission, which will run Brexit talks for the EU, reiterated its refusal to negotiate before article 50 is triggered, which the prime minister has promised will happen by before the end of March. “I cannot go an inch beyond the ‘no negotiations without notification’ principle,” said Margaritis Schinas, the chief spokesman for the commission’s president, Jean-Claude Juncker. [...]
Countering this view, one European diplomat said it was in the interests of the EU27 to avoid preparatory talks, because it would mean more focused discussions and unity among countries. He said: “The whole Brexit business is bad for the EU. Very clearly, all this is not going to be a joyful ride, but I am pretty confident that avoiding pre-negotiations is good for the EU27.” [...]
He expects Britain’s exit negotiations will be concluded within the two-year timeframe. Both sides had an incentive to wrap up divorce talks in two years, he said: for the EU it was important to complete talks before European elections in May or June 2019, while the UK would have the advantage of being able to sign trade deals with other countries by making a relatively fast exit.
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