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EU considers options for Brexit delay: May 7, year-end or open-ended, diplomats say


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EU considers options for Brexit delay: May 7, year-end or open-ended, diplomats say

 

2019-03-21T193544Z_1_LYNXNPEF2K1R1_RTROPTP_4_EU-SUMMIT.JPG

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Belgium's Prime Minister Charles Michel and Britain's Permanent Representative to the EU Tim Barrow attend a European Union leaders summit in Brussels, Belgium March 21, 2019. REUTERS/Yves Herman

 

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union leaders were considering different options on delaying Brexit on Thursday, possibly until May 7, the end of the year or even leaving the date open for now, diplomatic sources said.

 

The leaders started discussions on delaying Brexit after British Prime Minister Theresa May asked to postpone the current exit date of March 29 until the end of June.

 

The summit's chairman wanted to delay until May 22 if the British parliament approved the EU-UK withdrawal deal next week. But France pushed back and the latest offer was until May 7th - whether the House of Commons approves the deal next week or not.

 

It reflects the bloc's doubts that May will be able to get her deal through parliament before March 29.

 

"This would just give us more time to prepare for a no-deal Brexit," one diplomat said.

 

That option would include a deadline of April 11 for Britain to inform the bloc if it would hold European Parliament elections due on May 23-26. If the answer was positive, the bloc could then consider a longer Brexit delay.

 

The EU is due to hold a big celebratory summit on May 9th in Sibiu, Romania, to chart its course for the future and does not want it to be overshadowed by Brexit.

 

Others in the room proposed to leave the date open or go for a long delay until the end of this year straight away, the sources said, stressing that the leaders have not yet agreed a common position.

 

(Reporting by Alastair Macdonald, Gabriela Baczynska, Jan Strupczewski; editing by Elizabeth Piper)

 

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-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-03-22
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EU sets April 12 Brexit date if Britain fails to back deal

By Gabriela Baczynska and William James

 

2019-03-21T201420Z_1_LYNXNPEF2K1TA_RTROPTP_4_EU-SUMMIT.JPG

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker embraces Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May as they attend a European Union leaders summit in Brussels, Belgium March 21, 2019. Aris Oikonomou/Pool via REUTERS

 

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Britain could leave the European Union without a Brexit deal on April 12 if lawmakers fail next week to back Prime Minister Theresa May's agreement with Brussels, EU leaders said after a crisis summit in Brussels on Thursday.

 

With just a week to go until Britain risks lurching out into legal limbo at midnight (2300 GMT) next Friday, EU leaders gave May an extra two months, until May 22, to leave if she wins next week's vote in parliament. But she failed to convince the other 27 that she would succeed, prompting a frantic seven hours of talks to find a way to get Britain out without seeming to push.

 

The conclusion was a deal that suggested that Britain could, if May fails, come back and ask for a much longer delay. But this would be on the condition -- likely a major stumbling block -- that it takes part in elections to the new EU parliament on May 23. For it to do so, British election law says that would have to be announced six weeks beforehand, by April 12.

 

If it does not call an EU election, Britain will be out.

 

"The European Council agrees to an extension until 22 May 2019, provided the Withdrawal Agreement is approved by the House of Commons next week," the statement said.

 

"If the Withdrawal Agreement is not approved by the House of Commons next week, the European Council agrees to an extension until 12 April 2019 and expects the United Kingdom to indicate a way forward before this date for consideration by the European Council."

 

(Reporting by Robin Emmott, Gabriela Baczynska, Elizabeth Piper, Richard Lough, Anthony Deutsch, Philip Blenkinsop, Giulia Paravicini, William James, Thomas Escritt, Jan Strupczewski and Alastair Macdonald in Brussels and Guy Faulconbridge and Kylie MacLellan in London Writing by Alastair Macdonald, Jan Strupczewski and Elizabeth Piper; Editing by Kevin Liffey and Alastair Macdonald)

 

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-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-03-22
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The U.K. begging and begging. 

The E.U. to give in every time. 

 

Both must have their good reason. 

 

What the citizens of the E.U. & U.K. are thinking, or express their opinion about it, seems to be totally irrelevant. 

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6 minutes ago, Jip99 said:

 

So you think the EU have helped .

 

The UK Government’s performance has been pitiful, but I knowmanr Remain voters who would now vote Leave because they have been alienated by the bast4rds at the helm of the EU.

 

7 minutes ago, Jip99 said:

 

So you think the EU have helped .

 

The UK Government’s performance has been pitiful, but I knowmanr Remain voters who would now vote Leave because they have been alienated by the bast4rds at the helm of the EU.

You are barking up the wrong tree.

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12 hours ago, Laughing Gravy said:

All this is really transparent to anyone with with common sense and how the EU operate. It is all designed to get the UK either to revoke Article 50 or another referendum until they get the result right IMHO.

 

The EU really seem to be disillusioned and think the UK will be happy to be hoodwinked into staying in the EU. They would have been better to stay friends and let the UK go on its way but due to the federalised mentality of these lot, they will never let people leave their club, without trying to do as much damage as possible.

 

Regardless the UK people will never see the EU in the same way as they once did. That trust and alignment has gone forever.

The EU is getting the best deal it can , why wouldn't it ?

Of course they have played hardball , those not in denial were well aware that they would.

Those of you dismissing all warnings with the juvenile ' project fear ' response , have now had a big dose of reality.

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30 minutes ago, Jip99 said:

 

Trust me, there is a rising ‘hostility’ towards the EU and it HAS turned Remain voters....... I would guess not enough to create a rebellion, but certainly enough to a make a second referendum very interesting.

 

I fail to see how any self-respecting Brit could have any regard for the EU after the way they have treated the various representatives of the UK. The fact that the UK have made a complete balls up of the so-called negotiations does not exonerate the EU.

Tough to negotiate when you hold such a weak hand.

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