EU sources say Theresa May missed chance of swift start to Brexit negotiations, which are now likely to start in June

Theresa May has informed the European council that she will trigger article 50 on Wednesday 29 March, but European sources have made clear that Britain could be forced to wait until June to embark on formal talks.



The prime minister’s decision to name the date on which the two-year Brexit clock will start ticking down came as her official spokesman also quashed speculation about an early general election.

Instead he made clear that the government’s focus was set to turn solidly towards the country’s EU exit, which is now guaranteed to be complete by the end of March 2019.

The president of the European council, Donald Tusk, responded quickly to say that he would distribute his draft response to May’s letter among the leaders of the EU27 within 48 hours of next Wednesday. But sources made clear that it would take “four to six weeks” for the other 27 countries in the EU to reach consensus and start the more formal process.

May’s decision to spell out the starting date came after Jean-Claude Juncker claimed that “Britain’s example will make everyone else realise that it’s not worth leaving”.

And lead negotiator, Michel Barnier, hinted on Twitter that the EU27 were preparing to impose customs controls, despite May’s determination to secure “frictionless trade”.

Michel Barnier (@MichelBarnier) #Brexit: 4th technical seminar @27 to discuss impact on customs controls & procedures. EU27 have to start preparing now for future controls pic.twitter.com/LJjngCcaDd

The warnings underlined the rocky path that the prime minister will have to tread as she begins one of the most complicated negotiations of political history.

“I am very clear that I want to ensure we get the best possible deal for the United Kingdom that works for everyone across the United Kingdom and all parts of the UK when we enter these negotiation,” said the prime minister in Wales, at the start of a whirlwind UK tour aimed at drumming up last-minute support from the devolved administrations.

“I have set out my objectives. These include getting a good free trade deal. They include putting issues like continuing working together on issues like security at the core of what we are doing. We are going to be out there, negotiating hard, delivering on what the British people voted for.”

The prime minister – who also made clear that there would be no early general election – asked the UK ambassador to the EU, Sir Tim Barrow, to inform the European council president of the date.

However, EU sources claimed that May’s choice of next Wednesday meant she would miss the chance of a swift start to the negotiations, and instead have to wait up to six weeks for a formal response.

The prime minister’s chosen date shortens an already tight timeframe in which the British government hopes to both agree on the terms of withdrawal, including its financial liabilities, and successfully negotiate a “comprehensive free trade deal” with the EU.

The EU had hoped to offer a substantive political response to Britain at a summit pencilled in for the 6-7 April, but the notification date announced by Downing Street does not now make that possible, EU sources said.

Formal EU-UK negotiations are unlikely to start until mid-May at the very earliest, while some diplomats representing member states in Brussels believe it is more likely that talks will start in earnest in June.

Speaking to the Guardian, Gianni Pittella, the president of the socialist bloc in the European parliament, mocked the British prime minister’s slow progress in triggering talks, and warned that the EU would also be demanding agreement on Britain’s estimated £57bn divorce bill before trade talks could start.

He said: “Congratulations, Theresa May. Nine months to give birth to a date for article 50 notification. We will make sure that Brexit won’t affect EU and UK acquired citizens’ rights.

“Before negotiating the new relationship with UK, first and foremost we want substantial progresses on the withdrawal agreement to be ensured.”

Michel Barnier, who will lead negotiations for the EU, has also said the talks must proceed in that way, with experts lining up to warn that the two-year period will not be long enough for Britain to secure a future trading relationship.

However, a Tory peer who was involved in the drafting of article 50 told the Guardian that it was designed to allow the exit and trade talks to take place simultaneously.

Lord Kirkhope, who was a full member of the Convention on the Future of Europe that drew up the text that led to the Lisbon treaty, said: “As one of those involved in the drafting of article 50, I know that – whatever Michel Barnier says – it does allow for a parallel debate on both the terms of exiting the EU and the deal to be negotiated for after Brexit.”

Nevertheless, the two-year timetable is widely seen as extremely tight if May is to achieve her desire of securing a future deal before March 2019, especially given the need for around six months in which to ratify any deal.

Even with Tusk’s swift action, there will be around “four to six weeks” as EU states agree to the proposed response by consensus, according to a senior source.

Once the EU27 have formally adopted the guidelines, the European commission is expected to quickly present more detailed draft directives and recommend the opening of talks, which will then agreement by qualified majority at a meeting of ministers of the EU27, known as the general affairs council.

A date has yet been set for that ministerial meeting but it is only then that the talks with the UK will be formally opened.

Earlier rumours that the move would be made last week had to be quashed by sources close to the prime minister after Nicola Sturgeon declared her desire for a second Scottish independence referendum, leading to speculation that May had prevaricated because she did not wish to appear cavalier about the future of the union.

However, a Downing Street spokesman said the warning given on Monday morning was merely a matter of courtesy rather than a formal procedure designed to speed up the start of talks. “It’s simply a case of providing advance notice to help people on all sides,” he said. “We have always said we would trigger article 50 by the end of March and we thought it would be helpful to give advance notice.”

The prime minister’s spokesman said Barrow had a conversation with the office of the European council president, Donald Tusk, earlier on Monday to offer the EU notice of the date.

“There will be a letter, [May] will notify President Tusk in writing, and the prime minister has already confirmed she will give a statement to parliament as well,” he said. “More details will be given in due course.

“We want negotiations to start promptly, but it’s obviously right that the 27 have the opportunity to agree their position,” the spokesman said. “We fully expect they will want to do that in advance.

The Brexit secretary, David Davis, called the process “the most important negotiation for this country in a generation”.

“The government is clear in its aims: a deal that works for every nation and region of the UK and indeed for all of Europe – a new, positive partnership between the UK and our friends and allies in the European Union”, he said.









Donald Tusk (@eucopresident) Within 48 hours of the UK triggering Article 50, I will present the draft #Brexit guidelines to the EU27 Member States.







</s>Theresa May will trigger EU withdrawal talks under Article 50 on March 29, Downing Street said.

The Prime Minister's letter which officially notifies the European Council of the UK's intention to quit and will set in train a two-year negotiating process expected to lead to Britain leaving the EU on March 29, 2019.

Britain's ambassador to the EU, Sir Tim Barrow, informed the office of European Council president Donald Tusk on Monday morning of the Prime Minister's plans.

While Brexit Secretary David Davis said in a statement that the country is "on the threshold of the most important negotiation" for a generation.

Ms May was cleared to trigger Article 50 when the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Act gained Royal assent last week, after a Supreme Court ruling forced her to seek the approval of both Houses of Parliament.</s>Theresa May will trigger EU withdrawal talks under Article 50 on March 29, Downing Street has announced.

The Prime Minister's letter officially notifying the European Council of the UK's intention to quit will set in train a two-year negotiation process expected to lead to Britain leaving the EU on March 29 2019.

Britain's ambassador to the EU, Sir Tim Barrow, informed the office of European Council president Donald Tusk on Monday morning of the Prime Minister's plans.

The announcement means that Mrs May will meet her self-imposed deadline of the end of March to get the withdrawal process under way.

She was cleared to take the step when the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Act gained royal assent last week, after a Supreme Court ruling forced her to seek the approval of both Houses of Parliament.

Mrs May will address MPs in a statement to the House of Commons following her regular weekly session of Prime Minister's Questions on March 29.

Mr Tusk has previously said he expects to release an initial response to the Article 50 notification within 48 hours, and an extraordinary summit of the remaining 27 EU member states is due to be called within four to six weeks.

That summit will draw up a mandate for the European Commission's chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, probably allowing talks to begin in earnest in May.

Notification of the historic step will come in the form of a letter from the Prime Minister to Mr Tusk, though Downing Street did not make clear whether this would be a physical letter handed to the European Council president by a UK representative or might be sent electronically.

It will be the first time that the provisions of Article 50 - which sets out the process for any EU member state "to withdraw from the Union in accordance with its own constitutional requirements" - have been activated.

Notification comes 279 days after the referendum of June 23 last year delivered a 52%-48% majority in favour of withdrawal.

Mrs May, who was visiting Swansea on Monday, is expected to conduct visits in all four nations of the UK before notification takes place.

The PM's official spokesman said: "Earlier this morning, the UK Permanent Representative to the EU informed the office of Donald Tusk that it is the UK's intention to trigger Article 50 on March 29.

"There will be a letter. She will notify President Tusk in writing. The Prime Minister will give a statement to Parliament as well.

"We have always been clear that we will trigger by the end of March and we have met that timetable."

The spokesman said Britain wanted to start withdrawal negotiations "promptly", but accepts that "it is right that the 27 have a chance to agree their position" before talks start.</s>British prime minister Theresa May will trigger article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, the formal notification of the United Kingdom’s intention to leave the European Union, on March 29th, a spokesman for the British leader said on Monday. The United Kingdom has informed European Council president Donald Tusk’s office of Ms May’s intention, the spokesman said.

The move will formally trigger Britain’s exit from the European Union following a referendum in June last year.

Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty sets out how an EU country might voluntarily leave the union. Article 50 says: “Any member state may decide to withdraw from the union in accordance with its own constitutional requirements.”

No country has ever invoked article 50 before.

The announcement means that Ms May will meet her self-imposed deadline of the end of March to get the withdrawal process under way.

She was cleared to take the step when the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Act gained royal assent last week, after a Supreme Court ruling forced her to seek the approval of both Houses of Parliament.

Ms May will address MPs in a statement to the House of Commons following her regular weekly session of prime minister’s questions on March 29th.

Mr Tusk has previously said he expects to release an initial response to the article 50 notification within 48 hours, and an extraordinary summit of the remaining 27 EU member states is due to be called within four to six weeks.

That summit will draw up a mandate for the European Commission’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, probably allowing talks to begin in earnest in May.</s>Prime Minister Theresa May will trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, the formal notification of the United Kingdom’s intention to leave the European Union, on March 29, a spokesman for the British leader said on Monday.

The United Kingdom has informed European Council President Donald Tusk’s office of May’s intention, the spokesman said.

More to come.</s>Get daily updates directly to your inbox Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again later

Theresa May will trigger EU withdrawal talks under Article 50 on March 29, Downing Street has announced.

The Prime Minister's letter officially notifying the European Council of the UK's intention to quit will set in train a two-year negotiation process expected to lead to Britain leaving the EU on March 29 2019.

Britain's ambassador to the EU, Sir Tim Barrow, informed the office of European Council president Donald Tusk on Monday morning of the Prime Minister's plans.</s>Downing Street has revealed Theresa May will trigger EU withdrawal talks under Article 50 on March 29.

The Prime Minister's letter officially notifying the European Council of the UK's intention to quit will set in train a two-year negotiation process expected to lead to Britain leaving the EU on March 29 2019.

The announcement means the PM will meet her self-imposed deadline of the end of March to get the withdrawal process under way.

She was cleared to take the step when the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Act gained royal assent last week.

That came after a Supreme Court ruling forced her to seek the approval of both Houses of Parliament.

May will announce the move to MPs on March 29 in a Commons statement following Prime Minister's Questions.

In response to the news, European Council president Donald Tusk tweeted: "Within 48 hours of the UK triggering Article 50, I will present the draft Brexit guidelines to the EU27 Member States."

Tusk has previously said he expects to call an extraordinary summit of the 27 other members within four to six weeks, to draw up a mandate for the European Commission's chief negotiator, Michel Barnier. Under this scenario, talks are likely to begin in earnest in May.

An EU spokesman said it was "ready and waiting" for Theresa May's letter.

A No 10 spokesman said the UK's Ambassador to the EU, Sir Tim Barrow, informed the European Council, headed by Tusk, earlier on Monday of the date that Article 50 would be triggered.

The spokesman said the government wants negotiations to start as soon as possible but added that they "fully appreciate it is right that the other 27 EU states have time to agree their position".

The Article 50 letter is expected to be short, possibly extending to two pages at most, and May will use it to publicly reiterate her general objectives - such as leaving the single market but reaching a mutually beneficial agreement on trade and other issues.

The spokesman also dismissed suggestions of an early general election, saying: "It's not going to happen."

Speaking in Swansea during the first of a series of visits around the UK before she triggers Article 50, May said she was intent on "delivering on Brexit and getting the right deal".

Last year's referendum result, she added, "was not just about leaving the EU" but was a vote for a "change in the way the country works".

"Part of that is building a strong economy and ensuring that the benefits of economic growth and prosperity are felt across every part of the UK."

Brexit Secretary David Davis said the UK was now "on the threshold of the most important negotiation for this country for a generation".

"The government is clear in its aims," he said. "A deal that works for every nation and region of the UK and indeed for all of Europe - a new, positive partnership between the UK and our friends and allies in the European Union."

EU leaders have said they want to conclude the talks within 18 months to allow the terms of the UK's exit to be ratified by the UK Parliament and the European Parliament, as well as approved by the necessary majority of EU states.

May has said MPs and peers will have a vote on the deal she negotiates but she has insisted the UK will leave anyway, even if parliament rejects any deal.

The government has said it expects to secure a positive outcome but made clear there is a chance of there being no formal agreement.

Lib Dem leader Tim Farron, who has called for the public to have their say on the terms of exit in a further referendum, said May's decision to rule out membership of the single market before negotiations began was proof she was pursuing an "extreme and divisive" Brexit.

"On the day Theresa May is travelling the country claiming she wants to bring the UK together, she lets it be known she is about to unleash division and bitterness," he said.

"Leaving the single market was not on the ballot paper in the referendum, it is a political choice made by Theresa May."

Later this week, EU leaders will gather in Rome to mark the 60th anniversary of the Treaties of Rome, which established the European Economic Community - the initial forerunner to the EU. Mrs May is not attending the event.</s>Theresa May will trigger EU withdrawal talks under Article 50 on March 29, Downing Street confirmed on Monday.

The Prime Minister's letter officially notifying the European Council of the UK's intention to quit will set in train a two-year negotiation process expected to lead to Britain leaving the EU on March 29, 2019.

Britain's ambassador to the EU, Sir Tim Barrow, informed the office of European Council president Donald Tusk on Monday morning of the Prime Minister's plans.

Last week Nicola Sturgeon called for a second independence referendum between autumn 2018 and spring 2019 ahead of the Brexit process being completed.

On Tuesday and Wednesday she will seek the support of MSPs for a Section 30 order, which would see the Scottish Parliament request power from the UK Parliament to hold a new poll.

However, May stated last week that "now is not the time" for a second independence referendum, while she would not be drawn on the possible timescale of a new vote.</s>It’s all systems go for the United Kingdom as British Prime Minister Theresa May will trigger Article 50 on Wednesday, March 29. A spokesperson said that May will write a letter to the EU’s 27 other members to express her intent to have the negotiations begin swiftly. This move comes after a referendum held nine months ago where British people voted 51.9 percent to 48.1 percent in favor to leave the European Union.

The formal Brexit negotiations between Downing Street and the 27 other EU states will start after March 29. According to BBC, if all goes according to the 2-year plan of negotiations, then Brexit will happen in March 2019.

Meanwhile, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker thinks that leaving the EU is a bad idea. While others assume that Brexit will set a precedent for other European countries to break away from the EU, Juncker strongly disagrees that this will happen. The European Commission President warned that other member states will “realize it’s not worth leaving.”

“They will all see from the UK’s example that leaving the EU is a bad idea,” Juncker said. “On the contrary, the remaining member states will fall in love with each other again and renew their vows with the European Union.”

Furthermore, Juncker told German newspaper Bild am Sonntag that the EU would not be “intimidated” by the threats from Britain that it is willing to walk away from Brexit talks if it doesn’t get their way.

Last week, Juncker expressed in a statement to the European Parliament that he is hoping for a constructive process “conducted in an orderly manner.” But he said that claims taking the form of threats that say no agreement would be good for the UK need to be addressed.

“I want to be clear that a ‘no deal scenario’ would be bad for everyone, but above all for the UK, because it would leave a number of issues unresolved. We will not be intimidated by threats, and I can assure you they simply will not work,” Juncker warned.

Meanwhile, Sir Tim Barrow, UK’s permanent representative to the European Union gave notice to the EU on Monday morning that a formal letter triggering Article 50 should be expected on March 29.

“The government is clear in its aims: a deal that works for every nation and region of the UK and indeed for all of Europe—a new, positive partnership between the UK and our friends and allies in the European Union.”

According to The Guardian, Barrow had a conversation with European Council president Donald Trusk confirming that Theresa May will notify him [Trusk] in writing, and that she will address the parliament as well. It should be noted though that the advance warning is only a matter of courtesy and not a formal procedure.

Meanwhile, Downing Street denied reports suggesting that ministers were considering to hold a snap election after triggering Article 50. Brexit secretary David Davis said that there is a Fixed Term Parliament Act, which the prime minister intends to honor.

“The Prime Minister is getting on with delivering the will of the British people. There is not going to be an early general election.”

However, May is still facing increasing pressure especially from Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. The Scotland head of state is demanding for a second referendum on Scottish independence before the terms of Brexit are signed. She has been vocal about her view that Britain is heading for a “bad deal” on Brexit, and apparently wants out. Without this, once the UK leaves the EU, Sturgeon thinks that Scotland risks being taken out of the EU against its will.</s>Britain's government will begin the process of leaving the European Union on March 29, starting the clock on two years in which to complete the most important negotiation of a generation.

The country's permanent representative to the EU, Tim Barrow, informed the European Council President Donald Tusk of the timing on Monday morning, the U.K.'s Department for Exiting the European Union said in a statement.

The notification of triggering Article 50 of a key EU treaty will come in the form of a letter delivered to Tusk — though it was unclear whether it would come through an actual letter or an electronic missive.

"We are on the threshold of the most important negotiation for this country for a generation," Brexit secretary David Davis said. "The government is clear in its aims: a deal that works for every nation and region of the UK and indeed for all of Europe — a new, positive partnership between the U.K. and our friends and allies in the European Union."

The 10 Downing Street office of Prime Minister Theresa May said she will make a statement in the House of Commons on the day Article 50 is triggered. The announcement came after May pushed through legislation to start the negotiations to start withdrawal — a process set in motion by voters in a June 23 referendum.

The European Commission said it stood ready to help launch the negotiations.

"Everything is ready on this side," commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas said.

The letter May sends next week will plunge Britain into a period of intense uncertainty. The country doesn't know what its future relationship with the bloc will look like — whether businesses will freely be able to trade, students can study abroad or pensioners will be allowed to retire with ease in other EU states. Those things have become part of life since the U.K. joined what was then called the European Economic Community in 1973.

It's not even certain the United Kingdom will survive the exit intact. Scotland's nationalist first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, is seeking a referendum on independence within two years. Scottish voters backed remaining in the EU, and Sturgeons said Scotland mustn't be "taken down a path that we do not want to go down without a choice."

The trigger for all this tumult is the innocuous-sounding Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty, a never-before-used mechanism for withdrawing from the bloc.

It stipulates that the two sides now have until March 2019 to agree on a divorce settlement and — if possible — establish a new relationship between Britain, the world's No. 5 economy, and the EU, a vast single market containing 500 million people.
British Prime Minister Theresa May announces that her government will trigger article 50, which begins the process of withdrawing from the European Union, on March 29.