The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator wants a deal between Britain and Brussels by October 2018.<br /><br /> Michel Barnier, a former French foreign minister and ex-European Commissioner also said Tuesday the UK could not cherry pick parts of the single market it likes.<br /><br /> “Being a member of EU comes with rights and benefits. Third countries can never have the same rights and benefits since they are not subject to the same obligations.”<br /><br /> “The single market and its four freedoms are indivisible. Cherry picking is not an option.”<br /><br /> Barnier wants the post-Brexit deal wrapped before the next European election in 2019.<br /><br /> “The agreement itself should be reached in October 2018 to allow time, 5 or 6 months, Council, European parliament and British parliament to ratify,” he told reporters in Brussels.<br /><br /> “As long as we do not know what the intentions and the demands are, what the United Kingdom is prepared to ask for and accept for this future partnership; it is difficult to talk about a transitional period. A transitional period means that it facilitates the way, it prepares the way for the future relationship “<br /><br /> Barnier has spent the past months talking to European capitals as the European Commission tries to form a common position before the negotiations with the United Kingdom.<br /><br /> His remarks come as the UK’s supreme court consider whether parliament should have a say in triggering Article 50 – the EU’s exit clause.<br /><br /> Lawyers for the British government argue it is a matter for the executive, but the businesswoman who brought the lawsuit says MPs need to have a role as well.<br />
