EU leaders have offered the UK a plan which would delay Brexit from March 29 to May 22, on condition that MPs approve Theresa May’s withdrawal deal in a vote next week.

If the deal is rejected in its third “meaningful vote” in the Commons, the UK would be given until April 12 to come to the European Council with its proposals for the way forward.

The possibility would be open for a further extension of several months if the UK agreed to take part in European Parliament elections in May.

European Council president Donald Tusk said that the response to Britain’s request for an extension to the Article 50 withdrawal process was agreed “unanimously” by leaders of the other 27 member-states.

EU27 responds to UK requests in a positive spirit and:

👉 agrees to Art. 50 extension until 22 May if Withdrawal Agreement approved next week

👉 if not agreed next week then extension until 12 April

👉 approves âStrasbourg Agreementâ

👉 continues no-deal preparations — Charles Michel (@eucopresident) March 21, 2019

He went straight into a one-on-one meeting with Mrs May who has agreed to the plan.

Mr Tusk said that April 12 was a “key date” for the UK because if it decided not to participate in the European Parliament elections then a long extension would become impossible.

He said: “April 12 is a key date in terms of the UK wondering whether to hold European Parliament elections.

“If it is not decided do so by then the option of a long extension will immediately become impossible.”

Expand Close European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker (left) and European Council president Donald Tusk making a statement on Brexit in Brussels. Photo credit: ec.europa.eu/PA Wire PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker (left) and European Council president Donald Tusk making a statement on Brexit in Brussels. Photo credit: ec.europa.eu/PA Wire

Asked how long the “long extension” eventually on offer to the UK could be, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker replied: “Until the very end.”

Mr Juncker said: “Since the day of the referendum the position of the 27 members of the European Commission has been united and unequivocal.

“We have worked tirelessly to negotiate the Withdrawal Agreement.

“We have done everything we could to get it over the finishing line.

“We were asked for clarifications in December, we gave it to them.

“We were asked for assurances in January, we gave it to them.

“I was asked for further reassurances last Monday in Strasbourg, notably with regard to the backstop, I gave it to them.

“So I have to welcome that today, the 27 leaders endorsed the legally bonding clarifications and assurances that Prime Minister May and I agreed in Strasbourg.

“This closes and completes the full package. There is no more that we can have.”

I hope we can all agree that we are now at the moment of decision and I will make every effort to make sure we can leave with a deal and move our country forward. Theresa May

Speaking at a Brussels press conference after the announcement Mrs May said: "Firstly I welcome the Council's approval of the legally-binding assurances in relation to the Northern Ireland backstop, which I negotiated with President Juncker last week.

"This should give extra assurance to Parliament that in the unlikely event that the backstop is ever used it will only be temporary and that the UK and EU will begin work immediately to replace the backstop with alternative arrangements by the end of December 2020."

Mrs May said if Parliament does not pass her deal next week the European Council will extend Article 50 to April 12 when the UK would have the choice of no deal or to put forward an alternative plan.

She said if this involved another extension then the country will have to take part in the European Parliament elections.

Mrs May added: "I believe strongly it would be wrong to ask people in the UK to participate in these elections three years after voting to leave the EU."

Mrs May said she would be doing her utmost to ensure her deal was passed next week.

"What the decision today underlines is the importance of the House of Commons passing a Brexit deal next week so that we can bring an end to the uncertainty and leave in a smooth and orderly manner," she said.

"Tomorrow morning I will be returning to the UK and working hard to build support for getting the deal through."

The so-called “flextension” plan was drawn up in a meeting stretching over eight hours at an EU summit in Brussels, as EU27 leaders wrangled over possible final cut-off dates for Brexit.

The format increases pressure on Leave-backing MPs to row in behind Mrs May’s deal, for fear that if it falls the UK could find itself electing new MEPs and remaining for month or years within the EU.

But it also creates a breathing space of a fortnight if Mrs May reaches the end of next week without securing agreement for her package – or if Speaker John Bercow prevents her from tabling a motion which he regards as a repeat of those already defeated by 230 votes in January and 149 votes last week.

Parliament could use that time to try to take control of the process and force Mrs May towards a softer Brexit stance or second referendum.

The bulk of the meeting took place behind closed doors in Mrs May’s absence, after her plea for a longer extension to June 30 fell on deaf ears.

Mrs May had to leave the room after making her case in a 90-minute presentation to her European counterparts.

The Prime Minister was reportedly pressed on what she will do if MPs reject her deal for a third time but did not commit herself to a Plan B or rule out a no-deal Brexit.

Belfast Telegraph