Just days away from a potentially calamitous no-deal Brexit, European Union leaders meet Wednesday to discuss granting the United Kingdom a new delay -- possibly of up to a year -- to its departure from the bloc.
It's likely to be a rough day for British Prime Minister Theresa May as she pleads for a second extension until June 30, to prevent Britain's scheduled departure from the EU this Friday.
If they don't grant an extension, Britain leaves the bloc on Friday with no deal regulating the departure. A drastic cliff-edge exit would have huge costs to businesses and trade across the English Channel and be very cumbersome to travellers as it would likely hit airports, ports, tariff rules and standard regulations overnight.
Seeking support from European heavyweights Tuesday, May flew to Berlin and Paris to plead for good terms with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Emmanuel Macron, who has been taking a tough stance ahead of the Brussels summit. Among conditions France is now setting to agree to a new delay: A "credible prospect" of some kind of solution to the British political deadlock. A promise that Britain won't keep asking for more delays. And guarantees that Britain would not be involved in future EU decisions while its Brexit drama is playing out.
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