EU AGREES TO EXTEND BREXIT TILL JAN 31
The European Union (EU) on Monday agreed a three-month flexible delay for Britain’s departure from the EU till January 31, 2020, as Prime Minister Boris Johnson pushes for an election after opponents forced him to request an extension he had vowed never to ask for.
Just days before the United Kingdom (UK) is formally due to leave the EU on October 31, Brexit is hanging in the balance as British politicians are no closer to reaching a consensus regarding the process.
Johnson was compelled to request a postponement after he was defeated in the Parliament over the sequencing of the ratification of his divorce deal.
The 27 countries that will remain in the EU agreed on Monday to put off Brexit until the end of January with an earlier departure possible should the faction-ridden UK Parliament ratify their separation deal.
“The EU27 has agreed that it will accept the UK’S request for a Brexit ‘flextension’ until January 31, 2020,” European Council President Donald Tusk said in a tweet.
The EU member states will need Britain to formally reply to its offer of a threemonth delay before launching a “written procedure” whereby governments will have 24 hours to accept or reject the proposal.
“We can only launch the written procedure when we have agreement from the UK government on the text,” a senior EU official said.
Johnson is obliged by legislation passed by the Parliament last month to accept an extension once offered.
Johnson will respond to the EU’S delay offer once he has reviewed the details, his spokesman said on Monday.
Two senior EU diplomats confirmed that the written procedure period agreed was 24 hours, effective from the time London accepts the offer of a Brexit delay.
Britain’s departure has already been delayed twice — March 29 and April 12 — after Johnson’s predecessor, Theresa May, failed thrice to get her deal ratified by the Parliament.
The EU member states will need Britain to formally reply to its offer of a 3-month delay before launching a “written procedure”