UK Brexit Secretary Describes Meeting With Top EU Negotiator as Constructive

UK Brexit Secretary has met with member of the European Parliament and the European Union's chief Brexit negotiator.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — UK Brexit Secretary David Davis on Tuesday characterized his first meeting with member of the European Parliament and the European Union's chief Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt as a constructive start to the talks.

"We got on very well, it was a very useful, constructive conversation, a good start to the exercise," Davis told the BBC after the meeting.

The two counterparts met in Brussels earlier in the day, with Davis stating that they had made proposals on approaching the United Kingdom's withdrawal talks but did not hold any negotiations.

Davis stressed that an outcome where both the interests of the United Kingdom and the European Union were met was possible despite the two sides disagreeing over the freedom of movement and UK access to the EU single market.

Verhofstadt, who has been described by pro-Brexiters as a "fanatic" EU federalist, reportedly warned Davis of a 15-month window to complete talks after the UK government triggers Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty and then finalize the deal before the next European elections in early 2019.

On June 23, the United Kingdom voted on referendum to leave the European Union. UK Prime Minister Theresa May has stated that the country would trigger Article 50 by the end of March 2017, thus kick-starting withdrawal negotiations. The timing was later reaffirmed despite the High Court Ruling in November that the government must seek parliamentary approval before triggering the article.