United Kingdom Prime Minister, Theresa May, is likely to trigger the formal process of leaving the European Union early next year, according to a top EU official.

European Council President, Donald Tusk, said Mrs. May had told him the UK could be ready to begin talks by February.

The BBC says this is the clearest sign yet of when the two-year withdrawal process may start.

Mrs. May’s office said it would not be launched this year, but did not confirm Mr. Tusk’s account.

Formal negotiations over the withdrawal cannot begin until the UK triggers Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, the formal mechanism for leaving the union.

The timing of the process has so-far been clouded by uncertainty, with no clear signal from Mrs. May’s government on when it would begin.

There is also confusion over the nature of the UK’s future relationship with the bloc, especially whether it intends to remain a member of the single market.

Mr. Tusk spoke from the Slovakian capital, Bratislava, where Europe’s 27 other leaders are gathered for an informal summit without the UK.

Speaking about a meeting with the British PM in London last week, Mr. Tusk said: “Prime Minister May was very open and honest with me.

“She declared that it’s almost impossible to trigger Article 50 this year but it’s quite likely that they will be ready maybe in January maybe in February next year.”