Brexit deadline to be extended if withdrawal agreement approved by parliament: EU Prez

World Wednesday 03/April/2019 20:47 PM
By: Times News Service
Brexit deadline to be extended if withdrawal agreement approved by parliament: EU Prez

Brussels: The EU is willing to extend Brexit to 22 May if the withdrawal agreement is passed by the UK’s parliament, the President of the European Commision Jean-Claude Juncker has said.

Speaking to the European Parliament, Juncker stated, “If the UK is in a position to approve the withdrawal agreement with a sustainable majority by 12 April, the EU should be prepared to accept a delay until 22 May.”

“But 12 April is the ultimate deadline for the approval of the withdrawal agreement by the House of Commons. If it is not done so by then, no further short extension will be possible,” he stated.

“After 12 April, we risk jeopardising the European Parliament elections, and so threaten the functioning of the EU,” Juncker added.

Juncker highlighted that the EU is ready to launch talks and negotiations on its future relationship with the UK as soon as the agreement is signed.

The European Council had given the UK the time and space to decide.

“Yet I believe that a ‘no deal’ at midnight on 12 April is now a very likely scenario,” said Juncker.