EU Brexit boss sets October 2018 deadline for end of UK divorce talks

Report of the first press conference of the European Commission's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, since he was appointed as Chef Negotiator by President Juncker on the 27 July 2016. The press conference was held in Brussels on the 6 December 2016.

Based upon comments by United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May that the UK would set in motion the Article 50 process by the end of March 2017, Mr Barnier said that the Brexit negotiations would have to be over within eighteen months (October 2018) in order to allow a further six months time for ratification by the EU Institutions and the UK.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Why it matters if the European Commission ends up leading the Brexit negotiations http://www.europeansources.info/record/why-it-matters-if-the-european-commission-ends-up-leading-the-brexit-negotiations/

ESO: Background information: European Commission sets up Task Force led by Michel Barnier as Chief Negotiator for the Preparation and Conduct of the Negotiations with the United Kingdom http://www.europeansources.info/record/european-commission-sets-up-task-force-led-by-michel-barnier-as-chief-negotiator-for-the-preparation-and-conduct-of-the-negotiations-with-the-united-kingdom/

EUObserver, 06.12.16: Brexit deal must be done by October 2018, says EU negotiator https://euobserver.com/uk-referendum/136165

Politico, 06.12.16: UK caught out by Michel Barnier’s tighter Brexit timetable http://www.politico.eu/article/uk-caught-out-by-michel-barniers-tighter-brexit-timetable/

BBC News, 06.12.16: Brexit: EU negotiator says 'time's short' for reaching deal http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-38221140

The Guardian, 06.12.16: UK will have less than 18 months to reach deal, says EU Brexit broker https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/dec/06/uk-will-have-under-18-months-to-negotiate-deal-says-eus-brexit-broker

ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/

Euro|Topics: Debates, December 2016: EU ups the pressure over Brexit negotiations http://www.eurotopics.net/en/170808/eu-ups-the-pressure-over-brexit-negotiations

Blog: LSE EuroppBlog, 08.12.16: What Michel Barnier’s October 2018 timeline means for the Brexit negotiations http://bit.ly/2gahdrs

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