By Ben Kerrigan-
Boris Johnson has stated that the UK government is likely to trigger article 50 ,and begin the process of Brexit next year.
The foreign secretary told Sky News ministers would also set out the principles for departure in 2017 The government was “talking to our European friends and partners now in the expectation that by the early part of next year you will see an article 50 letter”, Johnson stated from New York, where he has attended meetings at the United Nations.
“We will invoke that, and in that letter I’m sure we will be setting out some parameters for how we propose to take this forward – principles,” he stated.
Despite the two-year limit set by ArtIcile 50 for EU exit, departure to be finalized, Johnson suggested the process could be much quicker. “ I don’t actually think we will necessarily need to spend a full two years. But let’s see how we go.”
Johnson did not describe the look of Brexit, except to promise continuous free trade with the EU: “We are going to benefit from the fantastic opportunities for greater free trade with our friends in the EU,” he said.
“It’s overwhelmingly in their interests. Not only do we buy more German cars than anybody else, we drink more Italian wine than any other country in Europe – 300m litres of Pros
ecco every year. They’re not going to put that at risk.”
Johnson’s optimism was being expressed as Britain was being told by Martin Schulz- the president of the European Parliament- for Britain to quickly begin the process of Brexit.
In a statement, Schulz said he would “stress why the European parliament favors the earliest possible triggering of article 50”. He said: “The UK has decided to leave the EU, but it will continue to be a European country with values and geopolitical interests which are common to the rest of the continent.”
This statement does not fully explain the rush from the EU president for Britain to leave the EU. It seems EU leaders are in a hurry to see Brexit implemented, so that they can begin to define new Europe in a way that will make Britain feel some adverse consequences for leaving the EU. EU leaders would want to ensure that other EU countries do not feel it is favorable to leave the EU, and would, therefore want to to use U.L as a scape goat.
Such has been the indication, judging from the general narrative of EU leaders since the Brexit outcome. There have been no trade deal agreements, despite alot of earlier optimism expressed by both Johnson and May. Deals with Canada, China, America, are on the cards, but the prospects of any real deal with EU countries continues to look slim. EU leaders don’t want to give the UK any access to the single market, without the freedom of movement- the very issue that caused the Brexit outcome in the first place.