EU to offer Boris Johnson more time to renegotiate Brexit to avoid no-deal Confidence in the avoidance of a no-deal Brexit is growing amongst some EU member states

EU leaders are preparing to offer Boris Johnson an extension to the no-deal Brexit deadline date of 31 October, in an effort to help keep the Conservative party together and provide a final opportunity to reach an agreement deal, according to reports.

The additional time will ostensibly be used for further negotiations, but may also be taken as additional preparation time for exiting the European Union without a deal.

Following a Commons vote earlier this week to prevent the next PM suspending parliament, confidence is growing amongst key member states that a no-deal Brexit can be avoided.

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“It will be described as a technical delay to save Boris from political embarrassment but then we will have time to find an agreement,” said a senior EU diplomat.

‘A platform for re-engagement’

According to The Guardian, proposals discussed in Brussels include the steps the EU should take to avoid a crisis should the UK depart the EU without a deal at the end of October.

“How do we build back out of the abyss in a time where minds on both sides of the channel are probably not very consolatory?

“We need to pre-empt that moment and create a platform for re-engagement on the day the UK leaves which might be used once the dust has settled. Provided of course the existing obligations are settled,“ a second diplomat said.



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Boris Johnson is expected to visit key EU members in August, should he be elected prime minister.

A G7 meeting in Biarritz, France at the end of August is believed to be a key opportunity for further discussions about a way forward, with the potential for an emergency Brexit summit to follow in September.

Delay to Brexit ‘absolutely necessary’

On Friday, Philip Hammond hinted that he was ready to vote against a Johnson government should he push for a no-deal Brexit.

Speaking to Le Monde and Süddeutsche Zeitung, the UK chancellor said: “I will take steps to avoid an exit without agreement apart from an explicit parliamentary approval.

“There should be a new and sincere attempt to reach a consensus. If we do not find a solution with the members, we may have to ask the British to give their opinion again in one form or another.”

When asked whether he would support a motion of no confidence, Mr Hammond replied: “I do not exclude anything for the moment.”

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Mr Hammond added that it was ”absolutely necessary“ for the UK to extend its EU membership beyond 31 October.

Ursula von der Leyen, the European commission president-elect, commented that she was receptive to a possible Brexit extension earlier this week.