The EU has been “very clear” that the UK would not be granted access to the single market without ensuring the free movement of people should Article 50 be triggered, and that the EU’s position would “not be changing”,  Prime Minister Joseph Muscat told the BBC.

Dr Muscat went on to say that the approach the union has taken is “really and truly our position and I don’t see it changing”, stressing that the EU would look to establish a “a fair deal with the UK” but would ensure that this did not “translate itself into a superior deal” for the country.

This comes after Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson suggested that there is a possibility that the country could implement a ‘soft’ Brexit, meaning that the UK would still be able to benefit from the single market whilst also having control over the country’s immigration.

The Prime Minister did admit that Brexit would have an adverse effect on both the EU and the UK claiming it to be a ‘catch-22’, saying that the process would certainly be ‘complicated’ and that ‘divorces are never easy’.

Dr Muscat also told Katya Adler that “in the UK it was fair game to bash Brussels, and then they should not be surprised if Brussels bashes them back” and that the European Parliament may decide to veto the final deal in 2019.

This comes after UK's Brexit Secretary David Davis described his meeting with the European Parliament's chief negotiator Guy Verhofstadt as a "good start".

The interview may be seen here