UK's exit from the EU could be delayed until late 2019

Britain's exit from the European Union, which was backed by a majority of Britons in June, could be delayed until the end of 2019, AFP reported, citing the Sunday Times.

The British government has repeatedly said it needs time to prepare for that process, which will not happen this year, and has expressed its intention to conduct preliminary negotiations before formally invoking Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty.

However, the EU has urged London to start the Brexit process urgently and has refused to enter preliminary negotiations. As reported, the UK government’s formal notification of its intention to invoke Article 50 is due to be sent to Brussels in early 2017.

Meanwhile, according to the newspaper, British ministers have warned senior representatives of the London financial industry that this process cannot take place before the end of 2017.

This would delay the country's exit from the EU until the end of 2019, when all EU treaties cease to apply to the country leaving the union two years after the respective agreement enters into force./.

According to Sputnik