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EU Council, Tusk To Offer Flexible 12-Month Brexit Delay – Official

  EU Council president Donald Tusk will suggest to member states Friday that they offer Britain a flexible 12-month Brexit delay to allow it time … Continue reading EU Council, Tusk To Offer Flexible 12-Month Brexit Delay – Official


European Council President Donald Tusk speaks during a debate on the priorities of the European Council meeting of 21 and 22 March 2019 and UK’s withdrawal from the EU during a plenary session at the European Parliament on March 27, 2019 in Strasbourg, eastern France. FREDERICK FLORIN / AFP
European Council President Donald Tusk speaks during a debate on the priorities of the European Council meeting of 21 and 22 March 2019 and UK’s withdrawal from the EU during a plenary session at the European Parliament on March 27, 2019 in Strasbourg, eastern France.
FREDERICK FLORIN / AFP

 

EU Council president Donald Tusk will suggest to member states Friday that they offer Britain a flexible 12-month Brexit delay to allow it time to prepare an orderly withdrawal.

“This is Tusk’s idea,” a senior EU official told AFP, confirming news reports. “It will be presented to member states today.”

As things stand, Britain is due to leave the European Union at midnight on April 12 next week. Under the suggested extension, Britain would be able to delay this.

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If the House of Commons ratifies the withdrawal agreement that Prime Minister Theresa May has already signed with the EU members, London could leave before the year is up.

But if Britain is still a member when the bloc holds elections to the European Parliament on May 23, it will need to take part in the poll and send another batch of MEPs to Strasbourg.

According to British press reports, May is due to write to member states on Friday to lay out her request for an extension.

AFP