EU, UK plan to start Brexit talks on June 19

The European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom will begin divorce talks on June 19, the two sides announced in a joint statement on Thursday.

"Michel Barnier, the European Commission's Chief Negotiator, and David Davis, Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, agreed today to launch Article 50 negotiations on Monday, June 19," read the joint statement issued by the European Commission and Britain's Department for Exiting the European Union.

The announcement ended guesswork over a possible postponement of Brexit talks in the wake of British Prime Minister's bungled snap election.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)