Britain does not want to go beyond 2-year limit in Brexit talks: Theresa May's spokesman

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The European Union's chief negotiator has set a target of agreeing on a Brexit deal with Britain by October 2018. His comments came on a day when pressure mounted on the UK to clarify what sort of deal it should pursue.
The EU's chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, said in Brussels that Brexit talks would have to be completed within 18 months. PHOTO: AFP

LONDON (REUTERS) - The British government does not want its Brexit negotiations to go beyond the two-year limit set under Article 50 of the European Union's Lisbon Treaty, a spokesman for Prime Minister Theresa May said on Tuesday (Dec 6).

Earlier, the EU's chief negotiator, Mr Michel Barnier, said in Brussels that the divorce talks would have to be completed within 18 months so the deal could be ratified by March 2019.

"There is a two-year time frame on that process. We have been clear that we are not seeking to extend that process. In terms of how long the actual negotiations take place, clearly that is a matter that will resolve itself as a result of the negotiations," Mrs May's spokesman told reporters.

He also said Britain was going into the talks with goodwill and was seeing that reflected by its EU partners.

Mr Barnier on Tuesday set a target of agreeing a Brexit deal with Britain by October 2018, assuming London keeps a promise of formally launching the process by the end of March.

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