Politics

Brexit: Michel Barnier says a long extension must be linked to a 'new event'


Michel Barnier says any long extension to the Brexit process must be linked to a ‘new event’.

The EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier has said EU leaders will have to assess “the reason and the usefulness” of any request by Theresa May to extend the Article 50 withdrawal process.

Mr Barnier said: “The issue is whether, with the support of the British Parliament, the UK Government may wish to request such an extension, whether it be short or long.

“You said both short and long, well, it’s either one or the other, isn’t it?

“The real question is what is the purpose of it? What is it for?

“It’s the reason for such an extension, the objectives of such an extension, which will determine its duration, or which would explain its duration.”


 

He went on: “So, for our part, we will continue to ask for this reason. The reasons why.

“And then, objectively, proceed to analyse the consequences of such an extension. Because an extension does have consequences.

“My feeling is … a longer extension needs to be linked to something new. There needs to be a new event.”

He told a news conference in Brussels that one of the key considerations would be whether an extension increase the chances of the Withdrawal Agreement being ratified.

He said: “The EU authorities want to know what the underlying political process which would be the grounds for that extension would be – political process within the House of Commons or in the general political debate in the UK.”

Mr Barnier added: “It is our duty to ask whether this extension would be useful because an extension will be something which would extend uncertainty and uncertainty costs.”


 

And he said that in making the decision, EU leaders would have to assess what is in the best interests of the EU.

“Will the UK request an extension because it wants more time to rework the political declaration?” he said.

“This political declaration which sets out the framework of our future relations could be made more ambitious in the coming days if a majority in the House of Commons so wishes.

“If not, what would be the purpose and the outcome of an extension and how could we be sure that at the end of a possible extension we are not back in the same situation as today?”

Read More

Latest Brexit news





READ SOURCE

Leave a Reply

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you accept our use of cookies.