Brexit talks will start after German elections, says van Rompuy

Negotiations between the UK and EU will start by the end of 2017 but not until after the German elections, the first president of the European Council said on Thursday.

Initial negotiations can start when the UK triggers Article 50, the formal two-year process of leaving the EU, but substantial talks will not happen until late next year.

Herman van Rompuy told BBC Radio Four's Today programme: "Before the German elections and before there is a new German government, I think no serious negotiations will take place.

"You can always start with more technical matters, but the hardcore, the difficult topics, will be tackled after the constitution of a new German government and that will be October, November."

Prime Minister Theresa May said she would not trigger Article 50 this year, but is facing calls from the pro-Brexit contingent of her party to activate the clause in the beginning of 2017, before elections are held in France in April and in Germany in September.

Nigel Farage, the former leader of Ukip who was largely responsible for former Prime Minister David Cameron calling a referendum on the country's membership of the EU, said on Wednesday he expected Article 50 to be triggered in January.

Van Rompuy, the former prime minister of Belgium, said the country's’ decision to leave the trading block was “political amputation of the first degree” and that Britain did not have many friends among the other 27 EU members.

He said the talks will be tough, but hopefully of mutual benefit.

“There is not a feeling that we have to punish, but on the other hand, most leaders don’t want to encourage other exits. Britain has not many friends any more. I saw this clearly when I was in office, when we had to vote on candidacy of Jean-Claude Juncker for the presidency of the Commission. Britain was isolated.”

Cameron was not in favour of Juncker’s presidency and campaigned against his appointment in 2014.

Van Rompuy said the free movement of people would be a red line if the UK wanted to maintain access to the single market.

“Of course, we want an agreement that represents some sort of mutual benefit. There are huge economic interests, but there are also red lines. It is very well known that freedom of movement is one of those red lines.

“It is very difficult for the EU to do something else vis-a-vis Britain, compared to what we agreed upon with Norway and Switzerland.”

EU leaders are currently gathering to meet in a summit in the Slovak capital, Bratislava, without the UK, to discuss the implication of the Brexit vote and the union’s future.