Adedapo Adesanya
By Adedapo Adesanya
The European Union (EU) has agreed in principle to extend Brexit until January 31, 2020, after reaching an agreement and with this new development, it means that the United Kingdom will not leave on October 31 as earlier planned.
According to the EU Council President, Mr Donald Tusk, it was a “flextension”, meaning the UK could leave the body before the deadline if a deal was approved by Parliament.
“Decision expected to be formalised through a written procedure,” Mr Tusk said.
The decision could have been reached last week, but France refused to give its assent on the ground that it was concerned it would do nothing to boost the chances of Britain deciding how to handle the end of its relationship with the European Union after over 50 years.
Today’s announcement from the 27 Member States body in Europe followed a meeting of ambassadors, and looks set to pave the way for a potential general election on December 12, as UK Prime Minister, Mr Boris Johnson seeks to regain a government majority to pass the deal.
The UK was due to leave the EU on Thursday, but Mr Johnson was required to request an extension after parliament failed to agree a Brexit deal.
In the meantime, according to the agreement, the country must nominate a senior official to serve on the next European Commission and must agree that the withdrawal agreement it struck in September will not be renegotiated.
It is the second time the Brexit deadline has been changed since the 2016 referendum on Britain’s departure from the European Union.
