Britain ready to start trade talks from day 1 after Brexit but EU bosses to drag their feet for WEEKS
THE EU could drag their feet for weeks on trade talks despite Britain being ready to start immediately.
Eurocrats at the bloc have confirmed it could take until March to draw up its own plans for what it wants.
The European Commission today revealed it would not even consider its own proposals until Britain was out.
Any delay at all will come as a huge blow to Boris Johnson, who has vowed to deliver a bumper trade deal by the end of the year.
EU spokesman Eric Mamer said: "The commission can adopt its proposal for the negotiation directives only once the UK has actually withdrawn from the EU.
"This we know will take some time, which is why we have said we will start negotiations as quickly as we can, but it will certainly not be before the end of February, beginning of March.”
Mr Mamer insisted the move was not a deliberate attempt to delay Brexit.
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He explained: "This is not a slowing down or speeding up of the process.
“This is simply the nature of the institutional process and the consultations that need to take place before the negotiation directives can be formally adopted."
The UK will leave the EU at 11pm on January 31, with a host of parties planned across Britain.
The Prime Minister has not yet revealed what he wants from the talks, but his spokesman today claimed the UK's position “will be set out in coming weeks”.
Irish Deputy PM Simon Coveney refused to blame the EU, and said Britain had been given plenty of time to sort out a plan.
He said: "To put the blame on the EU Commission for the state of affairs seems to me to be beside the point. Quite clearly the UK has been in control of the calendar."
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