Britain's exit from the European Union could be realized only at the end of 2019, due to the fact that the preparation of that step is a big task for the British civil services, and the start of Brexit negotiations could be postponed until after the elections in France and Germany, he writes. today the British newspaper "Sunday Times".
British Prime Minister Theresa May's government has indicated that it plans to activate Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, which officially triggers the exit from the EU, in early 2017, after which a two-year process of negotiations with official Brussels on the terms of separation would begin.
The "Sunday Times", however, states that some British ministers have privately warned the leaders of the financial sector there that Article 50 could be activated only at the end of 2017, which means that Britain could leave the EU only at the end of 2019.
"Ministers now think the activation of Article 50 could be delayed until the autumn of 2017," revealed a City of London source who spoke to two British government ministers.
"They don't have the infrastructure for the people they need to hire. They even say they don't know what questions to ask when they finally start negotiating with Europe," the source said.
An unnamed minister told the "Sunday Times" that the elections in Germany and France "present a certain challenge".
France has scheduled presidential elections for April and May next year, while general elections in Germany will be held in the fall of 207.
Theresa May has set up a new Ministry to deal with Brexit negotiations after the July 23 referendum victory to leave the EU, but Secretary David Davis has reportedly hired only half the staff he needs.
The other new British Ministry, for international trade, also has a difficult task to recruit experts, since London has only a limited number of experienced negotiators because the official Brussels has been running that sector for Britain as an EU member for decades.
Bonus video:
