EU´s Verhofstadt says agreement reached on 2019 end for Brexit negotiations
Britain and the European Union must begin formal talks soon in order to conclude the Brexit process by mid-2019, according to the latter's designated head for the negotiations, Guy Verhofstadt.
The UK has still not invoked Article 50, the mark of the beginning of the process to leave the bloc, and the delay is set to be prolonged even further by the high court ruling that parliament must be consulted before doing so.
Verhofstadt said on Tuesday that there was a mutual agreement that negotiations will be concluded within that specific time frame, as the legislative elections to the institution will be taking place that year.
"We agreed on the need that this process needs to start as early as possible and needs to finish, in any case, before the next European elections," the MEP told reporters in Strasbourg.
The former prime minister of Belgium met with UK Brexit secretary David Davis this week as a precursor to the beginning of formal talks between the two lawmaking bodies.
The central argument which has caused roadblock so far in the talks has been the UK's insistence on remaining a part of the free market, but a variety of EU leaders have rubbished these demands, saying that it cannot be granted without free movement of people.
Verhofstadt added that anything that puts in danger the EU's four primary freedoms would not be compromised.
"These four freedoms are key; they are a basic element of the European Union - the freedom of movement of goods, of services, of capital and of people," he added. "We will certainly never accept whatever development where these four freedoms are put at risk."
The Belgian is the leader of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, and was chosen to head the bloc's negotiating team due to his hard stance on Euro-scepticism.