Brexit Extension Cannot Be Longer Than May 23 - European Parliament Coordinator

An extension to a Brexit deadline cannot go beyond May 23, when the European elections are set to begin, European Parliament Brexit coordinator Guy Verhofstadt said Thursday

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 21st March, 2019) An extension to a Brexit deadline cannot go beyond May 23, when the European elections are set to begin, European Parliament Brexit coordinator Guy Verhofstadt said Thursday.

UK Prime Minister Theresa May wrote to European Council President Donald Tusk on Wednesday asking for an extension until June 30, instead of the originally planned deadline of March 29.

"It is impossible, we think, to have an extension that goes further than 23 of May because that would create an enormous problem ... and we don't want in the coming months, in the coming years to be busy with Brexit.

We want to be busy with renewal of the European Union," Verhofstadt said, as aired by the Sky news broadcaster.

Tusk said late on Wednesday that a short extension was possible if the UK House of Commons passed the withdrawal deal, but the length of a delay was up for discussion. The potential extension will be discussed at the European Council on Thursday and Friday.

The European elections are scheduled for May 23-26, while the new term of the European Parliament will begin on July 2.