Brexit NIGHTMARE: Donald Tusk admits October 31 might NOT be final deadline
EUROPEAN Council President Donald Tusk admitted the new October 31 Brexit deadline could be delayed yet further in a press conference at an emergency EU summit this morning.
Brexit: Donald Tusk tells UK to 'not waste time' with extension
In response to a question as to whether the Article 50 extension agreed tonight was the “worst of both worlds”, Mr Tusk said it was possible there will be another summit in six months time regarding another extension. He said: “I am too old to exclude another scenario like this. It’s possible.” Mr Tusk himself had pushed for a year’s delay to Brexit, proposing a deadline of March 2020.
He said he favoured a longer delay, but that six months “could be enough for a good solution”.
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker added that: “No deal would be a disaster - everyone knows that.”
Mr Tusk reiterated the three options available now for the UK.
He said if Parliament ratifies the withdrawal agreement, the extension would be terminated - hence the ‘flexible’ deadline.
He added that the UK could “reconsider” its Brexit strategy that might lead to changes in the political declaration, but that the withdrawal agreement is not up for renegotiation.
Finally, he emphasised the UK could still revoke Article 50 and cancel Brexit altogether.
He said: “Let me finish with a message to our British friends: this extension is as flexible as I expected and a little shorter than I expected, but it’s still enough to find the best possible solution.
"Please do not waste this time."
Brexit: October extension is a 'good solution' says Macron
Mr Tusk added that whilst the extension was not as long as he would have liked, “it’s better to have a piece of something than all of nothing.”
Meanwhile, Ireland’s Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he believes the UK should leave the EU by June 1 if it refuses to take part in European elections.
He took to Twitter to say: “And we’re done. Flextension to October 31.
“We’ll take stock of situation at our regular summit in June.
“UK to take part in European Parliament election or must leave on June 1 without a deal.”