Expected next European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has said there are “strong reasons” to extend the October Brexit deadline just hours before a key MEP vote on whether she will be given the top job. Ms von der Leyen said yesterday she would potentially support giving Britain more time to find a solution to the Brexit crisis before today’s European parliament vote on whether to ratify her nomination as commission president. The position taken by Ms von der Leyen is believed to be part of an ongoing strategy from Brussels to keep all options open in the final months before Brexit. Should Ms von der Leyen’s nomination fail to be ratified by the European parliament, it will cause a potential knock-on delay for the appointment of EU commissioners, including Ireland’s nominee Phil Hogan. Ms von der Leyen resigned as German defence minister last night, in anticipation of being formally appointed as European Commission president today.

Source: Irish Examiner July 15, 2019 20:48 UTC