Reports suggest Donald Tsk will propose a 12-month delay with a provision that Britain could leave sooner if Parliament ratified a Brexit agreement
Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May is seen in a car outside the Houses of Parliament as she faces a vote on alternative Brexit options in London, Britain, March 27, 2019.“This impasse cannot be allowed to continue,” Ms. May said in a letter sent on Friday to Donald Tusk, the head of the European Council that represents EU leaders. “It is frustrating that we have not yet brought this process to a successful and orderly conclusion.
The United Kingdom was supposed to leave the EU on April 12, which was already a delay from the original departure date of March 29. The EU will have to consent to any further delay and EU leaders will meet on Wednesday to consider Ms. May’s request. There are media reports out of Brussels indicating that Mr. Tusk will propose a 12-month delay with a provision that Britain could leave sooner if the British parliament ratified a Brexit agreement with the EU.
Ms. May has been unable to win parliamentary approval for a withdrawal agreement she struck with the EU last November. This week she reached out to opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn to find a way forward. They met once on Thursday and plan further discussions Friday. If they can’t reach a consensus, Ms. May has said she will let Members of Parliament vote on a series of options that could include a second referendum or not leaving the EU at all.
One looming issue for Ms. May is the upcoming elections to the European Parliament, which begin on May 23. The EU has said that if the British parliament did not approve the withdrawal agreement by April 12, the U.K. would have to participate in the European elections. Ms. May has been adamant that she doesn’t want the country involved in the elections given that the U.K. voted to leave the EU nearly three years ago. However, in her letter Friday she conceded that the U.K.
Ms. May’s approach to Mr. Corbyn, who leads the Labour party, has been risky and it’s far from certain they will be able to break the logjam over Brexit. Mr. Corbyn is pushing for the U.K. to remain in the EU’s customs union after Brexit to ensure the free movement of goods and keep the Irish border open. However, Ms. May has repeatedly ruled out remaining in the customs union because it would mean the U.K.
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