EU United on Brexit, Shows Loss of Confidence in May
By Staff, Agencies
European Union leaders took back control of the Brexit process from Britain's prime minister, saying Friday they believe the risks are too great and that action is needed to protect the smooth running of the world's biggest trading bloc.
In a move that underlined their loss of confidence in May, the leaders set two deadlines for Britain to leave or to take an entirely new path in considering its EU future.
In trying to sell Brexit to the British public over the past couple of years, May had always said that Britain was taking back control of its affairs from the EU. But leaders from the bloc showed at a Brussels summit that they too have a big say in how Brexit ends up.
At marathon late night talks in Brussels, they rejected May's request to extend the Brexit deadline from March 29 - just one week away - until June 30.
Instead, the leaders agreed to extend the date until May 22, on the eve of EU elections, if she can persuade the British parliament to endorse the Brexit deal. Failing that, May would have until April 12 to choose a new path.
"British politicians are incapable of implementing what the people asked them," French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters. "This crisis is British. In no way must we (the EU) become stuck in this situation, so that is why we have given two deadlines. We are organized."
The aim of the EU move is to ensure that Britain doesn't take part in the May 23-26 elections if it is leaving. Candidates for the Europe-wide polls, being held amid deep concern that mainstream parties could lose seats to anti-immigrant groups and populists, must be enrolled by April 12.
"The UK government will still have a choice of a deal, no-deal, a long extension or revoking Article 50. The 12th of April is a key date," said EU Council President Donald Tusk, who chaired the summit.
The leaders seized hold of the Brexit process when May - after repeated questioning - proved unwilling, or perhaps unable, to tell them what she planned to do next week if she fails yet again to convince a skeptical British Parliament to endorse the deal, EU officials said.
"We have to move forward. Our citizens, our companies have to be able to understand what the choice of the British Parliament is. We hope that it will be a rational choice, that it will be a choice to maintain close economic and security links with the European Union," Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said Friday.
"We are now waiting for the British to say clearly to the European Union what they want for the future," he told reporters.
The legally-binding Brexit agreement May sealed with her EU partners last November has been twice rejected by British legislators, once by a historic margin, and she has already angered the legislators by suggesting they are responsible the impasse.
"If Parliament does not agree a deal next week, the EU Council will extend Article 50 until 12 April," May said, referring to the EU treaty article governing Brexit. "At this point we would either leave with no deal, or put forward an alternative plan."
May also moved to heal the wounds caused by her televised speech to the public Wednesday evening - which some legislators slammed as "toxic" and a "low blow," saying that she had "expressed my frustration. I know that MPs are frustrated too. They have difficult jobs to do."
"I hope we can all agree, we are now at the moment of decision," May said.
