European Council President Donald Tusk is proposing to offer the UK a 12-month "flexible" extension to its Brexit date, according to a senior EU source.
London (Pakistan Point News / Online - 05th April, 2019) European Council President Donald Tusk is proposing to offer the UK a 12-month "flexible" extension to its Brexit date, according to a senior EU source.His plan would allow the UK to leave sooner if Parliament ratifies a deal, but it would need to be agreed by EU leaders at a summit next week.The UK's Conservatives and Labour Party are set to continue Brexit talks later.Attorney General Geoffrey Cox has told the BBC that if they fail, the delay is "likely to be a long one".
The UK is due to leave the EU on 12 April and, as yet, no withdrawal deal has been approved by MPs.Downing Street said "technical" talks between Labour and the Conservatives on Thursday had been "productive" and would continue on Friday.Prime Minister Theresa May has said a further postponement to the Brexit date is needed if the UK is to avoid leaving the EU without a deal, a scenario both EU leaders and many British MPs believe would create problems for businesses and cause difficulties at ports.
On Wednesday, MPs voted - by a majority of one - to force May to ask the EU for a further extension.However, the PM wants to keep any delay as short as possible.To do that, she and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn would need to agree a proposal for MPs to vote on before 10 April, when EU leaders are expected to consider any extension request at an emergency summit.If they cannot, May has said a number of options would be put to MPs "to determine which course to pursue".Cox told the that particular scenario would involve accepting whatever postponement the EU offered, which was likely to be "longer than just a few weeks or months".Europe's leaders have been split over whether, and how, to grant any extension.
