It’s YOUR problem to fix, says Brussels
EU warns it will need ‘credible justification’ for delay ... and says No Deal is closer than ever
THE EU last night warned it was prepared to play hardball over any request for a Brexit delay.
Warning that Britain would need ‘credible justification’ for extra time, EU leaders said the UK was now closer to a No Deal Brexit than ever before – with no guarantees that an extension to avoid a cliff-edge exit would even be granted.
It is likely that any request for a delay could come with significant conditions attached. Following the second crushing defeat of Theresa May’s deal last night, the bloc’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier led the warnings that Britain should not automatically expect an extension if it asks for one.
He tweeted: ‘The EU has done everything it can to help get the withdrawal agreement over the line. The impasse can only be solved in the UK. Our No Deal preparations are now more important than ever before.’
A spokesman for EU Council president Donald Tusk said: ‘On the EU side we have done all that is possible to reach an agreement... If there is a solution to the current impasse it can only be found in London.’
Warning Britain would need to set out a cast-iron plan if it was to persuade the remaining EU27 leaders to grant an extension, the spokesman added: ‘With only 17 days left until March 29 [when Britain leaves], today’s vote has significantly increased the likelihood of a No Deal Brexit.
‘The EU27 will expect a credible justification for a possible extension and its duration. The smooth functioning of the EU institutions will need to be ensured.’
The Commons will tomorrow decide whether to instruct Theresa May to seek an extension of Britain’s EU membership in a bid to resolve the deadlock. If approved, it means a summit of EU leaders in Brussels next week – just eight days before the UK is due to leave – could become one of the most important in Britain’s history for its future relationship with the bloc.
It is expected that this is when the EU27 leaders will decide whether to grant Britain an extension and how long for. All 27 leaders must agree unanimously on granting an extension and on the length, with member states understood to be split over whether to permit a short or long one.
Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte said: ‘The Dutch government will keep working tirelessly to make sure the damage for the Netherlands and Dutch citizens living and working in the UK is minimised in the now more likely case of a No Deal Brexit.
‘Should the UK hand in a reasoned request for an extension, I expect a credible and convincing justification.’
A statement from the European Commission differed slightly from the EU Council’s, saying the Commons vote had ‘increased the likelihood of a No Deal Brexit or the possibility of a no-Brexit’.
European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker has already warned any extension beyond May 22 would mean Britain being ‘legally required’ to hold costly EU Parliament elections, which begin the following day. It puts Mrs May in a tricky position as EU leaders are unlikely to believe Britain could sort out the Brexit chaos in just six weeks, unless she drastically changes her negotiating position.
Today EU officials, including Mr Juncker, will debate the result and the way forward in Strasbourg, where the EU parliament is sitting this week. Meanwhile member state ambassadors will discuss the way forward in Brussels in an emergency meeting.
Mr Juncker has already ruled out any further changes to the deal, meaning the focus will be on any potential extension.
Senior EU sources last night said they believe a short extension is the most likely scenario, but that there were no guarantees. They said that up until now, in- depth discussions between EU leaders about what to do in the event of such a request have not yet been extensive enough.
Preparations are said to be underway for a delay of up to a year in the event Britain decides to hold a general election or another referendum. But under any other circumstances there are doubts as to whether the EU27 would unanimously agree on a longer extension, with member states said to be split.
Some fear an extension beyond May 22 could disrupt the bloc’s decision-making process, with Britain continuing to take up key posts and seats in the EU Parliament.
One senior EU source said: ‘It’s unpredictable at the moment... At this point it still could be no extension, or extension until EU elections, but I would think a longer extension is less likely.
‘ Whoever tells you he or she knows either way is an untrustworthy source.’
‘Longer extension is unlikely’