European Union okays Brexit delay after talks with Theresa May

Brussels: The European Union (EU) has agreed on a plan to delay the Brexit process that avoids the UK crashing out without a deal and throws one last lifeline to British Prime Minister Theresa May. After hours of negotiations that stretched late into the night on Thursday in Brussels, the EU rejected May’s proposal for a Brexit delay and imposed their own, a two-part timetable, reports CNN.

The revised deal was agreed after a tense summit at which May failed to convince EU leaders that she could persuade British lawmakers to pass her overall Withdrawal Agreement next week and therefore avoid a no-deal Brexit on March 29. Under the EU plan, if the House of Commons passes the deal, Britain will leave the EU on May 22. But if May’s agreement is once again rejected, the UK will get an unconditional Brexit delay until April 12 to bring new proposals for a way out of the impasse.

In that scenario, if the UK agrees to take part in European Parliament elections in May, the possibility would be open for a further extension of several months. “What this means in practice is that until that date, all options will remain open and the cliff-edge will be delayed,” European Council President Donald Tusk told the media following the talks.

“The UK government is to have a choice of a deal, her deal, a long extension or revoking Article 50 (the mechanism taking the UK out of the EU).”

Following the agreement, the European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said the “atmosphere was good”, noting that the EU’s patience had been tested but had not run out, CNN reported. May, who had gone to Brussels seeking an extension until June 30, said she welcomed the council’s decision. (IANS)

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