EU's Barnier Gets Green Light For Brexit Talks

BRUSSELS, , (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd May, 2017 ) - EU ministers on Monday unanimously gave Frenchman Michel Barnier the green light to start what they warned would be "very difficult" talks with Britain over its exit from the bloc.

Negotiations are not expected to begin until mid-June after the British general election, but the two sides are already at loggerheads over key issues including the cost of Britain's departure.

Former European commissioner and French foreign minister Barnier will conduct negotiations on behalf of the remaining 27 EU member states for the coming two years. He will lock horns with Britain's Brexit minister David Davis who warned at the weekend that London could walk away from the talks if Brussels pushes a reported 100-billion-euro ($112-billion) divorce bill.