Brexit: UK asks EU for further extension until 30 June

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Britain asks EU for further extension until 30 June

Theresa May has written to the European Union a request to further delay to Brexit until 30 June.

The UK is currently due to leave the EU on 12 April (after already prolonging it from March 29) and, as yet, no withdrawal deal has been approved by MPs. Things might change, due to the recent letter addressed to European Council President Donald Tusk Friday, in which May said that “the United Kingdom proposes that this period should end on 30 June, 2019.”

The prime minister has proposed that if UK MPs approve a deal in time, the UK should be able to leave before European Parliamentary elections on 23 May.

But she said the UK would prepare to field candidates in those elections in case no agreement is reached.

It is up to the EU whether to grant an extension to the Article 50 process, under which the UK leaves the EU, after MPs repeatedly rejected the withdrawal agreement reached between the UK and the bloc.

Members of the EU consider that it would make more sense for Britain not to take part of the following elections for the European Parliament that are going to take place from the 23rd to the 26th of May.

Any extension from April 12 deadline will need unanimous approval from the 27 remaining EU nations. French President Emmanuel Macron said he wants to hear a clear reason from May as to why Brexit should be delayed yet again – a move that would add to uncertainties weighing on business across the bloc.

Even so, May said in her letter that Britain is reluctantly ready to begin preparations for the European elections if no Brexit deal is reached in the interim.

The british PM admits though, that it neither in Britain’s or the EU’s interest that Britain take part in the elections, it being a departing member.

May says she “accepts” the EU position that if Britain has not left the 28-nation bloc by May 23 it will have a legal obligation to take part in the elections.

The prime minister says she is still hopeful of reaching a compromise agreement that could take Britain out of the EU before that time.