Macron pushes for a 15-day only Brexit extension

EMMANUEL MACRON is set to force an emergency EU summit, insisting yesterday any delay to the Oct 31 Brexit deadline can last no longer than 15 days.

Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, recommended EU leaders support a three-month “flextension” until Jan 31, 2020. The French President’s hardline stance horrified diplomats in Brussels, who feared it heightened the risk of an accidental no-deal Brexit. But it will be a boost for Boris Johnson, who wants any Brexit extension to be as short as possible. The European Union could hold a special summit as early as Monday.

Amélie de Montchalin, France’s Europe minister, said yesterday: “An extension intended to win time or renegotiate the agreement is excluded. We have lost too much time, we have reached an agreement and we must implement it without delay.”

A month-long extension to Nov 30, one day before the new European Commission is due to take over from Jean-claude Juncker’s executive, is also mooted as possible in Brussels, although many member states see that as too short.

Mr Macron’s deadline shaves more than a fortnight off that deadline. But diplomatic sources insisted that Paris would not veto the request because that would force a damaging no-deal Brexit on Ireland. However, French objections could be overcome if Britain holds a general election.

French government sources refused to confirm the deadline, saying it “was still under discussion”.

Leo Varadkar, Ireland’s prime minister, who spoke to Mr Johnson yesterday, said: “My bags are always packed for Brussels and packed they are again.”

Germany and the Netherlands are among the majority of countries understood to be in support of a Jan 31 date, which would fall away as soon as a Brexit agreement was ratified by British and European parliaments.

The date matches that demanded by the Benn Act, which is attractive to a Brussels keen not to be seen taking sides in British political debate.

Mr Tusk had hoped to avoid the need for a summit by gaining unanimous support for his plan, which would allow the decision to be made in writing. That now appears unlikely. EU sources said that the overwhelming preference among leaders was to avoid a summit, but that might not be possible.

EU27 ambassadors will meet in Brussels tomorrow for more talks after a meeting to ascertain the mood of leaders last night. A decision on granting an extension by writing or with a summit is likely to be announced then.