Worn down by three years of indecision in London, European Union leaders on Thursday grudgingly offered the U.K. more time to ease itself out of the bloc, delaying by several weeks — but not eliminating — the threat of a chaotic British exit, the Washington Post reported. After a meeting that stretched through the afternoon and over dinner, the bloc said Britain could postpone its departure, due on March 29, until May 22 — if the U.K. Parliament approves Prime Minister Theresa May’s divorce deal with the bloc next week. If the twice-rejected deal is thrown out again, the bloc says Britain has until April 12 to “indicate a way forward.” May agreed to the plan, European Council President Donald Tusk said. The deep uncertainty among leaders at an EU summit in Brussels was exceeded only by the high anxiety being felt by politicians, businesses and citizens in Britain. The British military has even set up a command post in a bunker under the defense ministry in London to help coordinate “no-deal” planning. This week, May finally acknowledged the Brexit gridlock and asked the EU to delay Britain’s departure until June 30 — enough time, she hopes, to win parliamentary approval for her deal in a third attempt and then pass the legislation necessary for a smooth departure. But opposition to May’s the agreement among British politicians appeared to be hardening, rather than softening, after she blamed Parliament for the Brexit impasse. (Subscription required.)

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Govt. Claims/Sovereign Immunity

U.K.’s May Asks a Wary EU to Delay Brexit Until June 30

Submitted by ckanon@abi.org on Thu, 2019-03-21 08:54

Exactly 1,000 days after Britain voted to leave the European Union, and nine days before it is scheduled to walk out the door, Prime Minister Theresa May hit the pause button, asking the bloc to postpone the U.K.’s departure until June 30, the Associated Press reported. EU leaders will only grant the extension if May can win the U.K. Parliament’s approval next week for her twice-rejected Brexit deal. Otherwise, the U.K. is facing a chaotic “no-deal” departure from the bloc within days, or a much longer delay that May says she will not allow while she is in power. May, who has spent two and a half years trying to lead Britain out of the EU, said it was “a matter of great personal regret” that she had to seek a delay to Brexit. In a letter to European Council President Donald Tusk, May acknowledged that the Brexit process “clearly will not be completed before 29 March, 2019” — the date fixed in law two years ago for Britain’s departure. May asked to delay Britain’s withdrawal until June 30, and said she would set out her reasons to EU leaders at a summit in Brussels on Thursday. Her longshot plan is to hold a third vote in Parliament on her deal next week, then use the EU-granted extension to pass the legislation needed for an orderly departure from the EU. May’s request — and Tusk’s response — leaves Britain and the bloc facing Brexit uncertainty right up to the deadline for departure. Withdrawing without a deal could mean huge disruptions for businesses and U.K. residents, as well as those in the 27 remaining EU countries.

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Govt. Claims/Sovereign Immunity

U.K.’s May Prepares to Ask EU for Short Brexit Delay

Submitted by ckanon@abi.org on Wed, 2019-03-20 08:53

British Prime Minister Theresa May is preparing to ask the European Union for a short delay to the country’s divorce from the European Union, the Associated Press reported. A Downing Street official said May will write to EU leaders on Wednesday to formally request “a bit more time,” past the scheduled departure date of March 29. Parliament last week voted for a three-month delay to the end of June, but some EU leaders have suggested another two years might be necessary. May’s troubles deepened when the speaker of the House of Commons ruled earlier this week that she can’t keep asking lawmakers to vote on the same divorce deal they have already rejected twice. She is expected to make her request to the EU in writing, but a decision may not be quick. The head of the bloc’s executive branch said that European Union leaders are unlikely to agree to a delay at a summit this week. Britain’s political chaos is causing increasing exasperation among EU leaders. A delay to Britain’s withdrawal would require the approval of all 27 remaining EU countries.

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Govt. Claims/Sovereign Immunity