EU Brexit chief: UK must make deal by October 2018

Michel Barnier Credit: RTV

  • Video report by ITV News Political Correspondent Libby Wiener

The UK must reach a Brexit deal by October 2018, the EU's chief negotiator has said.

In his first public statement since taking on the role overseeing Britain's divorce from Europe, Michel Barnier said "time will be short".

He added: "It is clear the period for actual negotiations will be shorter than two years.

"At the beginning, the two years included the time for the council to set guidelines and to authorise negotiations.

"At the end, the agreement must of course be approved by the Council and European Parliament.

"Finally the UK will have to approve the agreement - all within the two year period.

"All in all there will be less than 18 months to negotiate. That is short."

He added: "Should the UK notify by the end of March as Prime Minister Theresa May said she would, it is safe to say negotiations could start a few weeks later and an article 50 reached by Oct 2018."

Meanwhile, a spokesman for Theresa May confirmed the government does not want to extend the Brexit negotiation beyond two years.

He added that the PM said Britain is going into Brexit negotiations "in the spirit of goodwill" as has been "reflected in dialogue with EU partners so far".