EU leaders had planned to endorse a shorter extension, to May 22, the eve of EU parliamentary elections, and leave any discussion of how to deal with May losing until next week. If it does not hold the election, leaders said, the very last date Britain must leave would be June 30, before the new EU parliament convenes. If Britain decides by April 12 against holding the EU election, it could then leave the EU without a deal at any time up to May 22. “WE HAVE BOUGHT TWO WEEKS”Macron has led the charge, calling for Britain, long a thorn in France’s plans for deeper European integration, to put up or shut up on Brexit. “That way, Merkel and the rest of the EU can avoid blame for forcing the British out,” one EU official said.

Source: The Express Tribune March 22, 2019 07:30 UTC