|
|
Amelie de Montchalin said the EU would not sign just "any" deal by the end of the year, saying "substance was much more important than deadlines".
The UK has said it could walk away from the talks in June unless there was the "broad outline" of an agreement.
The process, to be conducted in English, will begin on Monday.
Details of what will be discussed and when have been published, with topics to be covered in the first round of negotiations including trade in goods and services, transport, energy, fisheries and "fair and open competition" in future dealings.
Further rounds of negotiations will take place every two to three weeks, alternating between London and Brussels. [...]
Related op-ed by France’s secretary of state for European affairs Amélie de Montchalin for The Guardian: The EU will respect British sovereignty, and Britain must respect ours