EU’s Tusk sees next Brexit step in December, not this month

BRUSSELS – European Council President Donald Tusk says it won’t be until at least December until Brexit negotiations move to the next stage, not later this month as Britain was hoping.

Tusk bemoaned the slow pace of negotiations on the divorce proceedings with London and said it was still far too early to move to the next phase of planning a new trade relationship once the breakup from the bloc is complete.

He also warned that if progress fails to materialize both sides might have to look at other options beyond December.

Tusk said Tuesday that “If it turns out that the talks continue at a slow pace, then — together with our U.K. friends — we will have to think about where we are heading.”