The European Union (EU) has on Thursday approved to the extension of British Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal, in a bid to avoid no-deal Brexit scenario.
After a meeting, the EU said the United Kingdom (UK) could delay its departure from the bloc which is due on March 3 29, until May 22. The European Council president Donald Tusk, in a tweet, said, “EU 27 unanimously agrees on its response to UK’s request.”
The bloc, according to the plan, has agreed to an extension to Article 50 until May 22, offering the UK parliament support the deal next week when May will hold a referendum over it, according to ANI news reports.
According to Tusk, if Brexit deal gets red flagged next week in the parliamentary vote, an extension will be provided until April 12.
Tusk highlighted that the block would continue to prepare no-deal Brexit, despite many efforts to avoid a no-deal Brexit scenario.
In a tweet, Tusk said: “EU27 responds to UK requests in a positive spirit and: agrees to Art. 50 extension until 22 May if the Withdrawal Agreement approved next week. If not agreed next week then extension until 12 April. Approves ‘Strasbourg Agreement’. Continues no-deal preparations.”
EU27 responds to UK requests in a positive spirit and:
👉 agrees to Art. 50 extension until 22 May if Withdrawal Agreement approved next week
👉 if not agreed next week then extension until 12 April
👉 approves ‘Strasbourg Agreement’
👉 continues no-deal preparations— Charles Michel (@eucopresident) March 21, 2019
Tusk stated, “All of us are aware objectively how difficult the situation is … I am very satisfied, especially because we still have open so many options. Frankly speaking, I was very sad before our meeting and now I’m much more optimistic, ” following the meeting.