Luxembourg's Prime Minister Xavier Bettel speaks to the media at an European Union leaders summit in Brussels, Belgium October 17, 2018. REUTERS/Yves Herman

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Talks on Brexit cannot extend beyond March 2019 when Britain will be out of the bloc whether or not a deal on its withdrawal is found by both sides, Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Xavier Bettel said on Thursday at a summit of EU leaders.

“On the 29th of March it’s game over,” Bettel told reporters, stressing that time was running short, particularly ahead of elections to the European legislator next year. “We have to have a deal before.”

Commenting on British Prime Minister Theresa May’s efforts to reach a deal, he added: “It is not an easy situation. May doesn’t have it easy here in Brussels. And she doesn’t have it easy in London.”