UK Could Ask EU for Brexit Delay Shortly Before Deadline

By Staff, Agencies

Britain could ask the European Union for a Brexit delay even after the bloc’s March 21-22 summit, a senior diplomat said, suggesting that the decisive moment for the stalled divorce deal might still be some time ahead.

The other 27 EU member states staying on together after Brexit would need to agree unanimously to Britain’s request for any Brexit delay beyond the current leave date of March 29 at midnight.

EU diplomats told Reuters on Monday national leaders of the 27 do not necessarily need to meet physically to approve any such request - if it came from London.

“It’s not necessary to meet, we also have written procedure,” the diplomat said. “We have to have all our procedure completed one hour before midnight, Brussels time.”

The diplomat added, however: “Everybody prefers to do it in an orderly way at the Council” - referring to the Thursday-Friday talks of all EU leaders in Brussels.