EU and UK agree to extend Brexit deadline to October 31

The European Union leaders and the UK government have agreed to a six-month extension to Brexit, with a review in June.

The agreement, which was reached after an emergency summit in Brussels on Wednesday night, wards off the prospect of the UK leaving the EU without a deal on Friday.

EU27/UK have agreed a flexible extension until 31 October. This means additional six months for the UK to find the best possible solution.

— Charles Michel (@eucopresident) April 10, 2019

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Donald Tusk, president of the European council, met with Theresa May, British PM, to present the extension plan, even though May had wanted Brexit day to be postponed until June 30.

“This extension is as flexible as I expected and a little bit shorter than I expect but it is still enough to find the best possible solution,” Tusk told journalists.

He went on to send a message to the UK, saying “please do not waste this time.”

The UK is now expected to hold European elections in May, or leave on June 1, without a deal.

And we’re done. (1) Flextension to Oct 31st (2) We’ll take stock of situation at our regular summit in June (3) UK to take part in @Europarl_EN election or must leave on June 1st without a deal.

Good night !

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— Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) April 11, 2019

Shortly after the meeting, Leo varadkar, the Taoiseach (Irish prime minister), took to Twitter to say that the “deal consists of a “flextension” to October 31; “taking stock” of the situation at the regular June summit; and that the U.K. must take part in the EU election or leave on June 1.”

A #Brexit extension until 31 October is sensible since it gives time to UK to finally choose its way. The review in June will allow #EUCO to take stock of the situation -JM

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— Joseph Muscat (@JosephMuscat_JM) April 10, 2019

“A Brexit extension until 31 October is sensible since it gives time to UK to finally choose its way. The review in June will allow [the European Council] to take stock of the situation,” Joseph Muscat, Maltese prime minister, wrote on Twitter.

The choices we now face are stark and the timetable is clear.

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So we must now press on at pace with our efforts to reach a consensus on a deal that is in the national interest. pic.twitter.com/0LUYyP7be0

— Theresa May (@theresa_may) April 11, 2019

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May also tweeted that “the choices we now face are stark and the timetable is clear. So we must now press on at pace with our efforts to reach a consensus on a deal that is in the national interest.”