This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/apr/09/conditions-for-short-brexit-delay-have-not-been-met-says-berlin
The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 6 | Version 7 |
---|---|
UK likely to be offered Brexit extension until end of year | UK likely to be offered Brexit extension until end of year |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Britain is likely to be offered a final long extension ending on 31 December after the EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, failed to convince the bloc’s capitals that Theresa May has a plan to break the Brexit impasse. | Britain is likely to be offered a final long extension ending on 31 December after the EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, failed to convince the bloc’s capitals that Theresa May has a plan to break the Brexit impasse. |
A number of member states, most prominently France, along with Slovenia, Austria and Spain, remain sceptical about a lengthy extension, citing the risks to the EU of Britain behaving badly. | A number of member states, most prominently France, along with Slovenia, Austria and Spain, remain sceptical about a lengthy extension, citing the risks to the EU of Britain behaving badly. |
Barnier implored EU ministers meeting in Luxembourg to keep the pressure on MPs to back the deal by supporting May’s request for a Brexit delay only up until 30 June, a leaked diplomatic note of the debate reveals. | Barnier implored EU ministers meeting in Luxembourg to keep the pressure on MPs to back the deal by supporting May’s request for a Brexit delay only up until 30 June, a leaked diplomatic note of the debate reveals. |
But, according to the note seen by the Guardian, there is instead growing support for the idea of a lengthy extension, with a Brexit delay of around nine months now looking likely, sources claimed. | But, according to the note seen by the Guardian, there is instead growing support for the idea of a lengthy extension, with a Brexit delay of around nine months now looking likely, sources claimed. |
None of the EU27 ruled out such a delay during the meeting of EU affairs ministers, The Guardian has learned. | None of the EU27 ruled out such a delay during the meeting of EU affairs ministers, The Guardian has learned. |
France believes a full year extension, as proposed by Donald Tusk, the European council president, would be “too long”. But even those member states most wary of prolonged delay merely insisted on a “mechanism” to keep check on the British government’s behaviour, during the meeting. | France believes a full year extension, as proposed by Donald Tusk, the European council president, would be “too long”. But even those member states most wary of prolonged delay merely insisted on a “mechanism” to keep check on the British government’s behaviour, during the meeting. |
Brexit is just one front in Europe’s battle for its soul | Timothy Garton Ash | Brexit is just one front in Europe’s battle for its soul | Timothy Garton Ash |
A draft summit communique, obtained by The Guardian, and to be agreed by the EU27’s leaders on Wednesday, assumes a “commitment by the United Kingdom to act in a constructive and responsible manner throughout this unique period in accordance with the duty of sincere cooperation”. | |
It goes on to say the EU “expects the United Kingdom to fulfil this Treaty obligation in a manner that reflects its situation as a withdrawing member state”, while the length of the extension is left blank. | |
“To this effect, the United Kingdom shall facilitate the achievement of the Union’s tasks and refrain from any measure which could jeopardise the attainment of the Union’s objectives”, it adds in reference to the EU’s long term plans, senior appointments and budget decisions. It adds that the UK will leave on 1 June unless it has held European elections between 23-26 May. | |
The threat made by the Conservative Jacob Rees-Mogg to disrupt the union from inside in the event of a long extension to Britain’s membership were raised in the meeting of ministers, according to the leaked cable. | |
Barnier told the group: “We will not tolerate this”. | Barnier told the group: “We will not tolerate this”. |
France’s Europe minister, Amélie de Montchalin, told her colleagues during the meeting: “[The UK] mustn’t stand in the way of any decisions that the EU would have taken without them”. | France’s Europe minister, Amélie de Montchalin, told her colleagues during the meeting: “[The UK] mustn’t stand in the way of any decisions that the EU would have taken without them”. |
According to the note, Austria’s minister, Gernot Blümel, said that his government wanted to avoid a hard Brexit. “But let’s be honest – we have the support of our people for our tactic, which has created a pro-European mood,” he added. “We are risking our credibility if we extend again”, he said. “[Theresa May] is asking a lot of us. Therefore it is only fair we ask a decent plan and some conditions.” | According to the note, Austria’s minister, Gernot Blümel, said that his government wanted to avoid a hard Brexit. “But let’s be honest – we have the support of our people for our tactic, which has created a pro-European mood,” he added. “We are risking our credibility if we extend again”, he said. “[Theresa May] is asking a lot of us. Therefore it is only fair we ask a decent plan and some conditions.” |
“A long extension bears risk and we don’t know who the new Tory leader might be, or want they might do”, another minister said. “So we want clear guarantees on a long extension.” | “A long extension bears risk and we don’t know who the new Tory leader might be, or want they might do”, another minister said. “So we want clear guarantees on a long extension.” |
An option, not included in the draft communique, that has been discussed in recent days is a requirement on the prime minister to set out in writing her intention for the UK to act in “sincere cooperation” with the bloc, and for a “weighing point” to be set up in October when Brussels would judge whether the UK was living up to its commitments. | |
“That might be the price for French support,” said an EU diplomat. | “That might be the price for French support,” said an EU diplomat. |
According to the leaked note, a number of member states told Barnier that they did not believe Labour and the Conservatives were genuinely seeking a compromise position. | According to the leaked note, a number of member states told Barnier that they did not believe Labour and the Conservatives were genuinely seeking a compromise position. |
Luxembourg questioned why Labour had voted down the withdrawal agreement to which it is not opposed, concluded that its main focus was forcing a general election. | Luxembourg questioned why Labour had voted down the withdrawal agreement to which it is not opposed, concluded that its main focus was forcing a general election. |
The Greek minister said her government hoped to introduce a “culture of conciliation and a culture of understanding”, adding “like Portugal we remain flexible about an extension”. | The Greek minister said her government hoped to introduce a “culture of conciliation and a culture of understanding”, adding “like Portugal we remain flexible about an extension”. |
“The European elections can be a positive thing for Britain for they will reintroduce an actual discussion about Europe,” the minister said | “The European elections can be a positive thing for Britain for they will reintroduce an actual discussion about Europe,” the minister said |
During a press conference, Barnier hinted at the points he had made to the EU’s ministers during a 50 minute address on Tuesday morning, by noting that a key factor in the bloc’s thinking would be the “pressure you might want to assert” on MPs. | During a press conference, Barnier hinted at the points he had made to the EU’s ministers during a 50 minute address on Tuesday morning, by noting that a key factor in the bloc’s thinking would be the “pressure you might want to assert” on MPs. |
“The duration of an extension has got to be in line with or linked to the purpose of such an extension, and that is something I can imagine Mrs May will be telling the leaders tomorrow as well,” Barnier told reporters. | “The duration of an extension has got to be in line with or linked to the purpose of such an extension, and that is something I can imagine Mrs May will be telling the leaders tomorrow as well,” Barnier told reporters. |
But even before Barnier spoke, Germany’s EU affairs minister had complained that “absolutely nothing has changed” in Westminster. | But even before Barnier spoke, Germany’s EU affairs minister had complained that “absolutely nothing has changed” in Westminster. |
Michael Roth said cross-party talks had not offered any hope of an imminent Brexit breakthrough, leaving the UK facing no deal or a long extension to its EU membership. | Michael Roth said cross-party talks had not offered any hope of an imminent Brexit breakthrough, leaving the UK facing no deal or a long extension to its EU membership. |
Roth offered a downbeat assessment of the state of play ahead of Wednesday’s summit, complaining that “apparently the very late talks with the British opposition have not led to any progress whatsoever either”. | |
“Unfortunately I have to say that the conditions the European council has decided on in its last meeting have not been met. This means time will run out on 12 April,” Roth said. | |
MPs pass bill to force May to set out timetable for Brexit delay | MPs pass bill to force May to set out timetable for Brexit delay |
“So far absolutely nothing has changed”, he added. “Of course we are also thinking about such a deadline extension, including a long extension of the deadline, but this also has to come with very strict criteria.” | |
France has in recent days warned that having not found a clear plan to get the Brexit deal passed in the Commons, the UK government will have chosen by default to crash out of the bloc. | France has in recent days warned that having not found a clear plan to get the Brexit deal passed in the Commons, the UK government will have chosen by default to crash out of the bloc. |
Brexit weekly briefing: May seeks further delay after Labour talks | Brexit weekly briefing: May seeks further delay after Labour talks |
“That’s why there is not exactly an unlimited willingness of the European Union to always talk about extensions as long as there is no substantial progress on the British side,” Roth told reporters in Luxembourg. | “That’s why there is not exactly an unlimited willingness of the European Union to always talk about extensions as long as there is no substantial progress on the British side,” Roth told reporters in Luxembourg. |
De Montchalin, who has recently replaced Nathalie Loiseau as France’s EU affairs minister, told reporters: “The UK has asked for an extension. The French position hasn’t changed. We consider this demand is neither agreed nor automatic. It’s very important this demand comes with a credible political plan which will pass during the extension.” | De Montchalin, who has recently replaced Nathalie Loiseau as France’s EU affairs minister, told reporters: “The UK has asked for an extension. The French position hasn’t changed. We consider this demand is neither agreed nor automatic. It’s very important this demand comes with a credible political plan which will pass during the extension.” |
Brexit | Brexit |
Germany | Germany |
Theresa May | Theresa May |
European Union | European Union |
Article 50 | Article 50 |
Foreign policy | Foreign policy |
news | news |
Share on Facebook | Share on Facebook |
Share on Twitter | Share on Twitter |
Share via Email | Share via Email |
Share on LinkedIn | Share on LinkedIn |
Share on Pinterest | Share on Pinterest |
Share on WhatsApp | Share on WhatsApp |
Share on Messenger | Share on Messenger |
Reuse this content | Reuse this content |