Europe
16:15, 05-Apr-2019
Theresa May asks EU for another Brexit delay, till June 30 this time
Updated
20:22, 05-Apr-2019
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The United Kingdom is seeking a second delay on its exit from the European Union (EU).
In a letter written to European Council President Donald Tusk, British Prime Minister Theresa May requested another short-delay till June 30.
"The United Kingdom proposes that this period should end on 30 June 2019," May wrote in the letter.
A copy of UK Prime Minister Theresa May's letter to European Council President Donald Tusk, April 5, 2019. /Reuters Photo
A copy of UK Prime Minister Theresa May's letter to European Council President Donald Tusk, April 5, 2019. /Reuters Photo
May also stated that the UK government would continue to make responsible preparations for the European elections on the date.
Flextension maybe?
However, Tusk may prefer a longer extension, or "flexible extension," of 12 months, as BBC quoted a senior European Union source. Tusk's proposal, also known as "flextension," allows a provision for the divorce date to be flexible. UK could leave sooner if the withdrawal deal is ratified -- along with the EU leaders --earlier.
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker also said earlier that no more short delays would be granted to Brexit if UK lawmakers fail to ratify the stalled divorce agreement by April 12.
May's "short extension" has longstanding problems, British political analyst Tom Fowdy told CGTN.
"European leaders are growing impatient," Fowdy said, adding that the move will also further undermine confidence in the UK government.
Other EU member states do not like it
There is no reason to further extend the delay the EU has granted Britain for leaving the bloc unless facts in the country change, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz was quoted by German newspaper Straubinger Tagblatt as saying on Friday.
“We, as the European Union, have set very clear deadlines and there is no reason to further extend those deadlines,” Kurz said.
France also poses doubt to the extension by calling the request "premature," and urges "a clear plan" that would justify the second delay, a source in the French presidency also said Friday.