March 22, 2019

BRUSSELS (REUTERS) -  Britain could leave the European Union without a Brexit deal on April 12 if lawmakers fail next week to back Prime Minister Theresa May’s agreement with Brussels, EU leaders said after a crisis summit in Brussels on Thursday (March 21).

With just a week to go until Britain risks lurching out into legal limbo at midnight (2300 GMT) next Friday (March 29), EU leaders gave Mrs May an extra two months, until May 22, to leave if she wins next week’s vote in parliament. But she failed to convince the other 27 that she would succeed, prompting a frantic seven hours of talks to find a way to get Britain out without seeming to push.

The conclusion was a deal that suggested that Britain could, if Mrs May fails, come back and ask for a much longer delay. But this would be on the condition – likely a major stumbling block – that it takes part in elections to the new EU parliament on May 23.

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https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/eu-wrestles-with-short-brexit-delay-as-no-deal-looms