German Chancellor Angela Merkel says the European Union may well decide on a longer Brexit delay than the one sought by the British government, but it would be flexible enough to allow Brexit “very quickly” once London approves the withdrawal agreement.
Merkel told German lawmakers that a disorderly Brexit is not in Germany’s interest.
But She didn’t specify exactly how long the extension might be.
EU leaders are meeting in Brussels later Wednesday to mull Prime Minister Theresa May’s request for Brexit to be delayed until June 30. If no extension is granted, Britain risks crashing out without a deal on Friday.
She said of Wednesday’s outcome that it may well be a longer extension than the one the British prime minister asked for, but we will shape this extension in such a way that whenever Britain has approved the withdrawal agreement, Britain can then complete its orderly withdrawal very shortly after with a two-year transition period.
Merkel has set out three conditions for a likely delay to Britain’s departure from the European Union.
Merkel said the EU has “expectations” of Britain. She said that the EU’s institutions must be able to continue functioning “seamlessly” and that Britain must conduct elections to the European Parliament in late May.
She added that there also needs to be a readiness to take part constructively in decisions.
