UK, European Union (EU) Agree On 'Flexible' Brexit Delay To Oct 31

Brussels: The UK and the European Union (EU) have agreed on a "flexible" Brexit delay until October 31, with the option to leave earlier if British Prime Minister Theresa May can secure Parliament's support for a withdrawal deal, media reports said. After a working dinner that dragged long into Wednesday night, leaders of the 27 European Union nations agreed another delay to Britain's scheduled withdrawal from the bloc. European leaders were unconvinced by May's promise that the UK would leave by the end of June, CNN reported.

President of the European Council Donald Tusk, who had originally proposed an extension of up to a year, confirmed the UK had accepted the deal. "The course of action will be entirely in the UK's hands: they can still ratify the withdrawal agreement, in which case the extension can be terminated," he told the media here, adding that the UK could also rethink its strategy or choose to "cancel Brexit altogether", the BBC reported. If the UK does not participate in the European Parliament elections, then it will crash out of the bloc without a deal on June 1. Following the meeting, May spoke to the media early Thursday morning, saying that although the delay extends until October 31, the UK can leave before then if MPs pass her withdrawal deal. (IANS)

Also Read: INTERNATIONAL