EU okays Brexit delay, but sets no date
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Union agreed on Friday to London’s request for a Brexit deadline extension but set no new departure date, giving Britain’s divided Parliament time to decide on Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s call for a snap election.
“There was full agreement on the need for an extension,” an EU official said after ambassadors from the 27 countries staying in the bloc met to discuss postponing Britain’s exit, less than a week before the current deadline of October 31.
“Work will continue over the weekend” and envoys will meet again in Brussels on Monday or Tuesday, the person said.
A day after admitting that he will not meet his “do or die” deadline of October 31, Johnson said it was up to the EU to decide on an extension.
“Of course October 31 is still possible – we could leave on October 31 – unfortunately it depends on what the EU says,” he said, adding that if opponents frustrate his bid for an election on December 12, his minority government would not engage in pointless “Brexitology” in Parliament.
The EU envoys had been due to discuss the length of a third delay to Brexit but diplomats decided to hold off to let events play out in London.
One EU diplomat said France pressed the other 26 to wait and favored a delay until November 15 or November 30 to keep pressure on the British Parliament to approve Johnson’s deal or face a disorderly Brexit.
“Everyone wanted a decision today,” the diplomat said. “But France had a problem with that and wanted to wait until Monday/Tuesday to see what happens in London.”
A source close to French President Emmanuel Macron said: “France wants a justified and proportionate extension. However, we have nothing of the sort so far. We must show the British that it is up to them to clarify the situation and that an extension is not a given.”
“Briefings by Paris threatening a no-deal Brexit don’t make it any easier to find a solution among the EU-27. They are dividing, not uniting,” a European diplomat said, adding that France was isolated in its position.
Any delay can only be granted unanimously and it could come as little as 60 hours before Britain is due to leave.
The EU is intent on preventing the most damaging no-deal split, but it is also tired of the intractable divorce.
More than three years after Britons voted 52%-48% to be the first country to leave the European project, the future of Brexit is unclear and the country bitterly divided.