France doubts Boris Johnson's speedy Brexit can be done

Boris Johnson.
Boris Johnson. Photo credit: Getty

France is making it clear that it does not want to be shackled to the tight deadline British Prime Minister Boris Johnson wants to impose on the upcoming European-UK free trade talks.

Johnson has said discussions about the future must be completed by the end of 2020 and that there is ample time to agree a wide-ranging deal.

France's EU minister was skeptical and said it could take three times longer.

Amelie de Montchalin said EU member states would bide their time even if that risks causing a chaotic no-deal transition at the end of the year.

"If Boris Johnson says it must end in 11 months from now and we need 15, 24 or 36 months, the 27 will take their time," she said.

Britain is scheduled to leave the EU on January 31 at which point it enters a standstill period whereby it remains within the European single market and customs union until the end of 2020.

After Brexit day, official discussions are set to begin on the future relationship between Britain and the EU - since the Brexit vote in June 2016, discussions have only centered on aspects related to the divorce such as citizens' rights and Britain's financial liability.

Forging a comprehensive free trade agreement between the EU and a third country usually talks years, not months, and Johnson's timeline is viewed as unrealistic across the bloc.

Britain and the EU will have to strike deals on everything from trade in goods and services to fishing, aviation, medicines and security.

The EU has said both sides would suffer - but that Britain would suffer more given the relative importance of the EU economy to the size of the British economy.

"It is a major arm-twisting game," de Montchalin said.

APTN