The upcoming talks on Britain’s departure from the European Union are very likely to fail, a senior EU official said on Tuesday.
Both sides are to sit down and begin talks on Brexit during the week of June 19.
The EU official, who refused to be named, said that the British side was unwilling to foot the bill that arose from its membership of the bloc.
While official figures are still not available, Britain could face a payment of between 60 and 100 billion Euros (67 and 112 billion dollars.)
The official also said that Britain was unwilling to guarantee the kind of extensive citizens’ rights that the remaining 27 member states were looking for.
“Should talks fail, a “balanced, ambitious and wide-ranging” free trade agreement as envisioned by EU leaders would be impossible,’’ the official said.
Report says following a referendum in 2016, Britain is set to withdraw from the EU on March 29, 2019. (dpa/NAN)