Rompuy: Brexit Talks Unlikely to Start Until a New German Government is Formed

15:19     15 September, 2016

Substantive Brexit talks between the UK and the rest of the EU are unlikely to start much before the end of 2017, a former European Council president says, BBC reports.

Speaking to the BBC, Herman Van Rompuy said negotiations were unlikely until a new German government was formed after next September's election.

He described the UK's decision to leave the EU as a "political amputation".

"Before the German elections and before there is a new German government, I think no serious negotiations will take place," Rompuy said.