Politicians said to be discussing the possibility of delaying the UK’s EU departure
THERESA May's negotiators are rumoured to have 'put out feelers' to see whether the member states would consider a request to extend the Article 50 window
BRITISH negotiators are exploring the possibility of delaying our exit from the EU due to slow progress in the Brexit talks, it has been claimed.
Officials have reportedly “put out feelers” in Brussels to see how member states would react to a request to extend the Article 50 window.
EU diplomats discussed the possibility of such a move during a series of meetings last week, amid concerns the negotiations have stalled.
Tory MEP Charles Tannock said there are whispers in Brussels’ corridors that an extension could run from four to six weeks, meaning Brexit day is put back to early May.
British officials insisted there is “no plan” to extend the exit date.
A Government spokesman said: “As the Prime Minister has said, the UK will be leaving the EU on March 29, 2019 at 11pm GMT.”
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The claims come after EU ministers left open the possibility of Britain continuing to send euro MPs to the next parliament in Strasbourg.
Some experts, however – including the EU Council’s ex head of legal Jean-Claude Piris – have said that extending Article 50 beyond the next European elections would be problematic.
But a senior EU official told The Sun the bloc could work around any “institutional issues” if a longer extension is required to avoid a no deal crash out.
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