BRUSSELS (AP) Just two days away from a potentially calamitous no-deal Brexit, European Union leaders opened talks today to discuss granting the United Kingdom a new delay possibly of up to a year to its departure from the bloc.
Its likely to be a rough day for British Prime Minister Theresa May as she pleads for a second extension until June 30, to prevent Britains scheduled departure from the EU this Friday.
European Council President Donald Tusk has suggested an even longer delay of up to a year, with conditions attached to ensure Britain does not stymie EU decision-making if it remains a member.
According to the latest draft conclusions today, Britain would have to act in a constructive and responsible manner throughout this unique period of extended withdrawal, and would have to show sincere cooperation. It would have to act in a manner that reflects its situation as a withdrawing member state.
In Berlin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the EU has expectations of Britain so that EU institutions can continue functioning seamlessly.
The issue has come up after some British Conservative politicians threatened to become obstructionist. One of them, Mark Francois, said that if the U.K. remained in the bloc, then in return we will become a Trojan Horse within the EU.
Britain hopes it wont be a member for too long, though.
The key with any delay is we are able to terminate it once we ratify in order that we can then get on and get a deal through Parliament, ratify that agreement and leave the EU, Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay told the BBC. That is what the EU leaders want, it is what the Prime Minister wants.
EU Council President Donald Tusk and Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker were already honing strategies with incoming leaders hours ahead of the evening summit.
May will have a pre-summit meeting in Brussels with Tusk before explaining her delay request to the leaders, who will then discuss their next move.
If they dont grant an extension, Britain leaves the bloc on Friday with no deal regulating the departure, unless it cancels Brexit independently. A drastic cliff-edge exit would have huge costs to businesses and trade across the English Channel and be very cumbersome to travelers as it would likely hit airports, ports, tariff rules and standard regulations overnight.
EU countries, especially France, have become increasingly exasperated with the political division and uncertainty in Britain about a way forward.
The blocs leaders have tried to help May over two years of negotiations, even after she missed her hand-picked Brexit departure date on March 29 because of a parliamentary revolt.
Seeking support from European heavyweights Tuesday, May flew to Berlin and Paris to plead for good terms with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron, who has been taking a tough stance ahead of the Brussels summit.
Mays charm offensive appeared to bear fruit with an official in Macrons office saying that France was ready to accept a new delay.
While Macron still has a long list of conditions, it was a notable shift in Frances tone compared with last week. The reason for the change was unclear, though concerns have been growing about how badly a hard Brexit would hit the French economy, too. France was also encouraged by Mays outreach last week to Britains political opposition to find a compromise, and Macron may have been swayed in part by a meeting with the Irish prime minister.