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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Brexit: May awaits EU Brexit extension decision | Brexit: May awaits EU Brexit extension decision |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Theresa May is waiting to hear the decision of the other 27 EU leaders, who are discussing her request for a short delay to Brexit. | Theresa May is waiting to hear the decision of the other 27 EU leaders, who are discussing her request for a short delay to Brexit. |
| Mrs May wants to postpone the UK's exit date beyond this Friday to 30 June - but EU leaders are expected to offer a longer delay, with conditions. | Mrs May wants to postpone the UK's exit date beyond this Friday to 30 June - but EU leaders are expected to offer a longer delay, with conditions. |
| The PM spoke for about an hour at the summit, before leaving the room. | |
| The BBC's Christian Fraser in Brussels says France and Germany disagree over the length of delay to offer the UK. | |
| A French presidency official told Reuters news agency that the existing Brexit documents being discussed did not include the "serious guarantees" needed for a long extension. | |
| A no-deal Brexit was not the worst option and the EU would run a higher risk if the UK obstructed EU operations, the official is reported to have said. | |
| Earlier Mrs May said she "regrets" that the UK has not already left, adding that she had "been clear" with the EU that she is only seeking a short delay to Brexit. | |
| The other EU leaders are discussing her proposal over dinner. | The other EU leaders are discussing her proposal over dinner. |
| Ahead of the summit, European Council President Donald Tusk said that "neither side should be allowed to feel humiliated", and urged the other 27 leaders to back a flexible extension of up to a year. | Ahead of the summit, European Council President Donald Tusk said that "neither side should be allowed to feel humiliated", and urged the other 27 leaders to back a flexible extension of up to a year. |
| Mrs May said that the UK could leave the EU when a deal is ratified by Parliament, and so the exit date could be by 22 May - the day before the European Parliament elections. | Mrs May said that the UK could leave the EU when a deal is ratified by Parliament, and so the exit date could be by 22 May - the day before the European Parliament elections. |
| 'Vital night' for PM | 'Vital night' for PM |
| This is a huge moment, a really vital night for the prime minister, who for so long told us repeatedly she wanted to keep the option of leaving without a deal on the table. | This is a huge moment, a really vital night for the prime minister, who for so long told us repeatedly she wanted to keep the option of leaving without a deal on the table. |
| But that has completely changed. | But that has completely changed. |
| She now believes that would be a huge mistake, that that could be a complete disaster, and therefore tonight she is arguing to avoid that at almost any cost. | She now believes that would be a huge mistake, that that could be a complete disaster, and therefore tonight she is arguing to avoid that at almost any cost. |
| Tonight, whatever Theresa May says, the ultimate decision is with the European Union. | Tonight, whatever Theresa May says, the ultimate decision is with the European Union. |
| It is absolutely clear at the moment what happens next to her - and what happens next at home - is not in British hands tonight. | It is absolutely clear at the moment what happens next to her - and what happens next at home - is not in British hands tonight. |
| The UK is currently due to leave the EU at 23:00 BST on Friday, 12 April. | The UK is currently due to leave the EU at 23:00 BST on Friday, 12 April. |
| If no extension is granted, the default position would be for the UK to leave on Friday without a deal. | If no extension is granted, the default position would be for the UK to leave on Friday without a deal. |
| So far, MPs have rejected the withdrawal agreement Mrs May reached with other European leaders last year, but the Commons has also voted against leaving in a no-deal scenario. | So far, MPs have rejected the withdrawal agreement Mrs May reached with other European leaders last year, but the Commons has also voted against leaving in a no-deal scenario. |
| The EU's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, said the "only way to ensure an orderly withdrawal of the UK" was for Parliament to agree the withdrawal agreement, and any extension "has to be useful and serve a purpose". | The EU's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, said the "only way to ensure an orderly withdrawal of the UK" was for Parliament to agree the withdrawal agreement, and any extension "has to be useful and serve a purpose". |
| "Our common purpose is to get the ratification of the withdrawal agreement," he added. | "Our common purpose is to get the ratification of the withdrawal agreement," he added. |
| Mrs May said she knew many people would be "frustrated that the summit is taking place at all", but its purpose was "to agree a deal to enable us to leave the EU in that smooth and orderly way". | Mrs May said she knew many people would be "frustrated that the summit is taking place at all", but its purpose was "to agree a deal to enable us to leave the EU in that smooth and orderly way". |
| She said the "extra time" to get a deal through Parliament was "in everybody's interest". | She said the "extra time" to get a deal through Parliament was "in everybody's interest". |
| Asked if she would accept a longer extension than her proposal, she said: "I have asked for an extension to 30 June. | Asked if she would accept a longer extension than her proposal, she said: "I have asked for an extension to 30 June. |
| "But what is important is that any extension enables us to leave at the point at which we ratify the withdrawal agreement, so we could leave on 22 May and start to build our brighter future." | "But what is important is that any extension enables us to leave at the point at which we ratify the withdrawal agreement, so we could leave on 22 May and start to build our brighter future." |
| The PM has previously said she was "not prepared to delay Brexit any further than 30 June". | The PM has previously said she was "not prepared to delay Brexit any further than 30 June". |
| EU officials have prepared a draft document for the leaders to discuss at the summit - but the end date of the delay has been left blank for the EU leaders to fill in once deliberations have ended. | EU officials have prepared a draft document for the leaders to discuss at the summit - but the end date of the delay has been left blank for the EU leaders to fill in once deliberations have ended. |
| BBC Europe editor Katya Adler said the blank space showed EU leaders were still divided on the issue. | BBC Europe editor Katya Adler said the blank space showed EU leaders were still divided on the issue. |
| BBC Europe correspondent Kevin Connolly said "much has been spelled out in advance", including the condition that if the UK remains a member of the EU at the end of May it will have to hold elections to the European Parliament or be forced to leave immediately. | BBC Europe correspondent Kevin Connolly said "much has been spelled out in advance", including the condition that if the UK remains a member of the EU at the end of May it will have to hold elections to the European Parliament or be forced to leave immediately. |
| He added that, during the delay, the UK would be expected to commit to not disrupting EU business, such as the preparation of the next budget, and its influence "would be sharply reduced and its voice muted". | He added that, during the delay, the UK would be expected to commit to not disrupting EU business, such as the preparation of the next budget, and its influence "would be sharply reduced and its voice muted". |
| 'Maintain unity' | 'Maintain unity' |
| Arriving in Brussels, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the leaders needed to discuss Mrs May's request "openly and constructively", and she had "no doubt" there would be unity over an extension. | Arriving in Brussels, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the leaders needed to discuss Mrs May's request "openly and constructively", and she had "no doubt" there would be unity over an extension. |
| She said: "The greatest interest for us is an orderly withdrawal of the UK from the EU and to maintain the unity of the 27." | She said: "The greatest interest for us is an orderly withdrawal of the UK from the EU and to maintain the unity of the 27." |
| Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he did not anticipate that the UK would leave the EU on Friday, and he was "very confident" that an extension will be agreed at the summit. | Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he did not anticipate that the UK would leave the EU on Friday, and he was "very confident" that an extension will be agreed at the summit. |
| "What is still open is how long that extension will be and what the conditions will be," he added. | "What is still open is how long that extension will be and what the conditions will be," he added. |
| "I believe the consensus here in Brussels and across the European Union will be to give the United Kingdom a little bit more time for the cross-party talks that are happening to conclude, and we can review the situation then in a few months' time." | "I believe the consensus here in Brussels and across the European Union will be to give the United Kingdom a little bit more time for the cross-party talks that are happening to conclude, and we can review the situation then in a few months' time." |
| But French President Emmanuel Macron said "nothing is settled, and in particular no long extension". | But French President Emmanuel Macron said "nothing is settled, and in particular no long extension". |
| He said he was "impatient" to hear "clear proposals" from Mrs May, and leaders would need "a lot of calm, a lot of determination and a lot of sang-froid". | He said he was "impatient" to hear "clear proposals" from Mrs May, and leaders would need "a lot of calm, a lot of determination and a lot of sang-froid". |
| President Macron added: "I believe deeply that we are carrying out a European rebirth, and I don't want the subject of Brexit to get in the way of that." | President Macron added: "I believe deeply that we are carrying out a European rebirth, and I don't want the subject of Brexit to get in the way of that." |
| Meanwhile, DUP leader Arlene Foster and Northern Ireland MEP Diane Dodds will meet Mr Barnier on Thursday, with Conservative MPs Iain Duncan Smith and Owen Paterson. | Meanwhile, DUP leader Arlene Foster and Northern Ireland MEP Diane Dodds will meet Mr Barnier on Thursday, with Conservative MPs Iain Duncan Smith and Owen Paterson. |
| Ms Foster said the prime minister had "limped along and tried to force people into a cul-de-sac" in trying to get support for her "bad" deal. | Ms Foster said the prime minister had "limped along and tried to force people into a cul-de-sac" in trying to get support for her "bad" deal. |