EU offers Brexit delay until May 22 only – leaked draft

Source: RT

March 21, 2019 at 16:53

A pro-Brexit protester holds a banner outside the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain on March 20, 2019. © Reuters / Dylan Martinez

The EU is poised to agree to Theresa May’s request to delay Brexit, a leaked draft document shows. But it says the extension is possible only until May 22, as the UK “doesn’t intend to hold elections to the EU parliament.”

The delay itself will only take effect if the UK parliament approves the ill-fated May Brexit plan next week, the document states. The divorce agreement with the EU has already been rejected by British MPs twice.

Leaked draft paper... EU confirms extension until May 22nd, provided UK HoC passes #Brexit WA. No longer extension granted. pic.twitter.com/jmYGHh67o3
— Neil Morrow (@mrneilmorrow) March 21, 2019

While the UK requested the extension of the Brexit process until June 30, the EU is ready to provide a delay that is half as generous – until May 22.

“Given that the United Kingdom does not intend to hold elections to the European Parliament, no extension is possible beyond that date,” the leaked document reads.

If May’s plan yet again fails to pass in the House of Commons next week, it would almost certainly mean a ‘no-deal’ scenario for the whole Brexit affair. French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday said the ongoing situation cannot drag on “indefinitely” and that the “choice of the British people” has to be respected.

“If British MPs reject the deal once again, there will be no deal,” Macron said during the Brexit delay summit in Brussels. “We cannot pretend after three years that the British people did not vote to leave.”