Theresa May Could Trigger Article 50 In February 2017

United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May may initiate Article 50 for Brexit in early 2017, said top European Union official.

According to European Council President Donald Tusk the country could trigger talks by February next year.

Experts believe the statement to be clearest sign when the formal process of leaving the EU may start.

Earlier the PM office said the Brexit process would not be launched in 2016.

It is to note here the formal negotiations could only begin after the Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty is triggered. The entire process may take about two years.

Until now the timing of initial formal talks was clouded by uncertainty and May’s government didn’t offered any specific hint. Confusion also persists about the future relationship of UK with the EU bloc. It is not understood whether the UK would remain as a member of the single market.

Tusk and 27 other leaders of Europe gathered without UK for an informal summit in Slovakian capital Bratislava. He said May was open and honest with him in their meeting last week in London.

Tusk added, “She declared that it’s almost impossible to trigger Article 50 this year but it’s quite likely that they will be ready maybe in January maybe in February next year.”

According to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker access to single market could not be possible for UK without the country accepting free movement of workers.