Donald Tusk has written to the EU leaders recommending a year-long Brexit extension
European Council president Donald Tusk has written to the leaders of the European Union recommending a year-long flexible Brexit extension.
Tusk said there is “little reason to believe” that the ratification process of Theresa May’s Brexit deal can be completed by the end of June.
The letter comes ahead of the meeting the EU will hold with May on Wednesday, where the prime minister will seek a Brexit extension until June 30 amid Tory warnings over the impact of holding European Parliament elections.
There are times when you need to give time time.
My letter to EU leaders ahead of tomorrow’s #EUCO: https://t.co/bAsz4Qx36s#Brexit— Charles Michel (@eucopresident) April 9, 2019
Tusk said: “In reality, granting such an extension would increase the risk of a rolling series of short extensions and emergency summits, creating new cliff-edge dates.
“This, in turn, would almost certainly overshadow the business of the EU27 in the months ahead.
“The continued uncertainty would also be bad for our businesses and citizens. Finally, if we failed to agree on any next extension, there would be a risk of an accidental no-deal Brexit.
“This is why I believe we should also discuss an alternative, longer extension. One possibility would be a flexible extension, which would last only as long as necessary and no longer than one year, as beyond that date we will need to decide unanimously on some key European projects.”
