EU backs Brexit delay as Johnson eyes poll
LONDON: European Union members have backed a plan to postpone Brexit but have yet to agree on how much longer to give London to resolve its political crisis.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is struggling to persuade British MPs to quickly ratify the divorce accord he struck with EU leaders last week, and is pushing for a snap election.
Mr Johnson spoke to European Council president Donald Tusk on Wednesday and, according to a European source, he told him he does not want to delay Brexit beyond Oct 31.
But Mr Tusk nevertheless recommended to EU ambassadors they approve a prior British request for a delay until Jan 31, which a reluctant
Mr Johnson was compelled to send last week under a law passed by rebel MPs.
The ambassadors met on Wednesday and several official and diplomatic sources said they agreed on the principle of an extension — but not on its length — with France publicly in favour a shorter delay.
“All agreed on the need for an extension to avoid a no-deal Brexit. The duration of an extension is still being discussed,” a European source told reporters.
Some reports suggested France had wanted to limit the delay to just two weeks, in order to help Mr Johnson pressure the House of Commons to quickly approve the withdrawal arrangement.
But three sources said that no alternative date was proposed in the meeting itself. Germany and Ireland backed the “flexible” Jan 31 deadline, which could be cut short is a deal is ratified beforehand.
“The mood in the room points to a longer extension,” one European diplomat said.
Another added: “The delegations insisted on the fact that they could not decide today and that they need more clarity on what is going on in the United Kingdom.”
If the member states cannot agree, then an emergency EU summit could be called for Monday, but the EU official said the members had a “strong preference” for making a decision this week. The envoys meet again today.