Merkel Says Short Brexit Delay Possible If UK Parliament Backs Withdrawal Deal
Umer Jamshaid Published March 21, 2019 | 04:01 PM
The European Union can grant a short extension to the March 29 Brexit deadline if the UK parliament approves the current withdrawal agreement, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday, ahead of the EU summit in Brussels
BERLIN (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 21st March, 2019) The European Union can grant a short extension to the March 29 Brexit deadline if the UK parliament approves the current withdrawal agreement, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday, ahead of the EU summit in Brussels.
On Wednesday, UK Prime Minister Theresa May wrote to European Council President Donald Tusk requesting a Brexit extension until June 30.
"We can talk positively about a short extension," Merkel said in a statement to the Bundestag, adding that the extension could be granted if there was a "positive vote" in the UK parliament.
Speaking about the UK-EU withdrawal agreement, the German chancellor stressed that she continued to strive for an orderly Brexit, which was "in the interest of not only the United Kingdom but also Germany and all 27 EU member states.
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Merkel also said that the European Union wanted to have a close relationship with London in the future, in particular, on matters related to foreign and domestic policies, and cooperation within NATO and the United Nations.
In her letter to Tusk, May wrote that she planned to bring the withdrawal deal to the House of Commons for a vote as soon as possible, but remarked that even if it passed, there would be no time to ratify the deal before the original March 29 deadline.
The European Council meeting will be held on Thursday and Friday, with the Brexit delay expected to be one of the key talking points.
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