European Union members agreed Monday to postpone Brexit for up to three months, stepping in with their decision less than 90 hours before Britain was due to crash out with no divorce deal.

European Union members agreed Monday to postpone Brexit for up to three months, stepping in with their decision less than 90 hours before Britain was due to crash out with no divorce deal. The next deadline for departure will be January 31 next year -- although the other 27 capitals would allow an earlier date if London ratifies a withdrawal agreement before then. "The EU27 has agreed that it will accept the UK's request for a Brexit flextension until 31 January 2020," the president of the European Council representing member states, Donald Tusk, tweeted. "The decision is expected to be formalised through a written procedure," he said, after ambassadors met in Brussels to approve the extension. According to a copy of the agreement seen by AFP, if Prime Minister Boris Johnson convinces the UK parliament to approve an amicable divorce accord before next year, Brexit could be on November 30 or December 31. But in the meantime London must nominate a senior official to serve on the next European Commission and must agree that the withdrawal agreement it struck last month will not now be renegotiated, according to the EU text. 'Efficient' meeting Leaving the ambassador's gathering, EU negotiator Michel Barnier said it had been a "short and efficient and constructive meeting," adding: "I'm very happy that a decision has been taken." A delay could have been agreed last week, but Paris was reluctant, concerned it would do nothing to boost the chances of Britain deciding how to handle the end of its five-decade relationship with the EU. Johnson had been pushing for a definitive break on October 31 after finally striking a withdrawal deal with fellow EU leaders at an October 17 summit. But he has yet to persuade sceptical British MPs to ratify the accord, raising the spectre of a chaotic "no-deal" Brexit and severe economic disruption in the United Kingdom. In the meantime, he is trying to break the logjam -- and strengthen his tenuous grip on office -- by demanding an early election to secure a parliamentary majority. But the British opposition has been reluctant to deliver the two-thirds vote needed to approve a snap poll until the threat of a disorderly Brexit is off the table. Divorce terms The expected decision to postpone Brexit beyond the end of the month would do this, but Paris wanted EU capitals to wait until the UK election timetable was clear. On Monday, however, European diplomats told AFP they would wait no longer and would make a decision without further delay after Britain agreed it would not try to change the withdrawal deal. "The conditions of the extension have been specified and reinforced, notably on the fact the deal is not renegotiable," a French diplomatic source told AFP in Paris. Later Monday, Johnson was to ask the House of Commons to vote on a snap election, which he wants to hold on December 12 -- after MPs have had time to ratify his Brexit deal. However he faces defeat on that move, as with his two previous election calls. He needs the support of two-thirds of the 650 MPs, but does not have even a simple majority. The Labour party dislikes Johnson's Brexit deal and says it will not back an election until his threat of leaving the EU with no deal at all is removed. More than three years after Britons voted 52-48 percent for Brexit in a 2016 referendum, the country and parliament remain divided. Johnson, a leader of the "Leave" campaign, took office in July this year vowing to take Britain out of the European Union on October 31 whatever happens. But MPs rebelled against his threat to sever 46 years of ties without a deal and passed a law requiring him to seek a delay if they refused to accept his divorce terms.

European Union envoys agree three-month Brexit delay

The European Union agreed on Friday to London's request for a Brexit deadline extension but set no new departure date, giving Britain's divided parliament time to decide on Prime Minister Boris Johnson's call for a snap election.

The European Union agreed on Friday to London's request for a Brexit deadline extension but set no new departure date, giving Britain's divided parliament time to decide on Prime Minister Boris Johnson's call for a snap election. "There was full agreement on the need for an extension," an EU official said after ambassadors to the 27 countries staying in the bloc met to discuss postponing Britain's exit, less than a week before the current deadline of Oct. 31. "Work will continue over the weekend" and envoys will meet again in Brussels on Monday or Tuesday, the person said. A day after admitting that he will not meet his "do or die" deadline of Oct. 31, Johnson said it was up to the EU to decide on an extension. "Of course October 31 is still possible - we could leave on Oct. 31 - unfortunately it depends on what the EU says," he said, adding that if opponents frustrate his bid for an election on Dec. 12 his minority government would not engage in pointless "Brexitology" in parliament. The EU envoys had been due to discuss the length of a third delay to Brexit but diplomats decided to hold off to let events play out in London. One EU diplomat said France pressed the other 26 to wait and favoured a delay until Nov. 15 or Nov. 30 to keep pressure on the British parliament to approve Johnson's deal or face a disorderly Brexit. "Everyone wanted a decision today. But France had a problem with that and wanted to wait until Monday/Tuesday to see what happens in London," the diplomat said. A source close to French President Emmanuel Macron said: "France wants a justified and proportionate extension. However, we have nothing of the sort so far. We must show the British that it is up to them to clarify the situation and that an extension is not a given." Macron has previously managed to sway the bloc's extension decisions, meaning options range from two weeks to the three months - to Jan. 31, 2020 - requested by Johnson, or longer should it be clear that Britain is headed for an election. Any delay can only be granted unanimously and it could come as little as 60 hours before Britain is due to leave. Blank date According to a draft document seen by Reuters ahead of Friday's meeting, a delay was to be granted "with the view to allowing for the finalisation of the ratification" of the divorce agreement sealed with Johnson last week. The draft text left the Brexit date blank, but said the split could take place earlier if ratification was completed, an idea dubbed a flexible extension or "flextension". A two-tier delay was also on the cards, meaning one decision might come with two possible dates for Brexit, depending on if and when the deal is ratified. "This extension excludes any reopening of the Withdrawal Agreement," the draft decision said, reminding Britain it would remain a full, paying member state until it leaves and should not seek to stall EU decisions. The EU is intent on preventing the most damaging no-deal split, but it is also tired of the intractable divorce. A joke in that spirit was being shared among EU diplomats: "The year is 2192. The British prime minister visits Brussels to ask for an extension of the Brexit deadline. No one remembers where this tradition originated, but every year it attracts many tourists from all over the world." More than three years after Britons voted 52%-48% to be the first country to leave the European project, the future of Brexit is unclear and the country bitterly divided. Johnson won the leadership of the ruling Conservative Party in July with a pledge to get Brexit done by Oct. 31, but parliament's rejection of his timetable on Tuesday means he will fail to do that. His predecessor Theresa May resigned after parliament defeated her Brexit deal three times, forcing delays from an initial Brexit date of March 29. Johnson told opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn he would give parliament more time to approve his Brexit deal by Nov. 6 if lawmakers back a December election in a vote on Monday, his third attempt at forcing a snap poll. Corbyn replied he would wait to see what the EU does on a Brexit delay before deciding which way to vote, repeating that he could only back an election when the risk of a no-deal Brexit was off the table. It is not clear how Corbyn will respond now the EU has shelved its decision on a new Brexit date. A spokesman for Johnson said he would push ahead with plans to leave the EU if lawmakers reject a pre-Christmas election. Ladbrokes said betting odds indicated an election in 2020.

EU agrees Brexit extension but sets no date as UK squabbles over election

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