Macron: May must offer a ‘new choice’ to enable Article 50 extension
French President Emmanuel Macron. Photo by Ugo Amez/Pool/ABACAPRESS.COM - Credit: ABACA/PA Images
French president Emmanuel Macron has suggested the UK will need a good reason to delay its scheduled departure from the European Union on March 29.
Theresa May has said she will allow MPs to vote on an extension to the two-year negotiation period set down in the EU's Article 50 if she has not secured Parliament's approval for her deal by March 12.
But May's climbdown has taken much of the sting out of the occasion, with no resignations expected and the amendment's tabler Dame Caroline Spelman indicating she may not force it to a vote if she receives adequate reassurance on the PM's intentions.
Also selected was an amendment from Labour's Yvette Cooper, simply restating Mrs May's promises in the hope of pinning her down to them with a motion passed by the House.
Any extension of Article 50 will require the unanimous agreement of the remaining 27 EU states.
You may also want to watch:
But Macron said that any request from Britain would need to be justified by 'a clear perspective on the goal,' adding: 'We don't need time, we need decisions.'
Speaking at a press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Paris, the French president said: 'We would support an extension request only if it was justified by a new choice of the British.'
Most Read
- 1 Sky News presenter says Boris Johnson is 'gaslighting the nation' over Covid claims
- 2 Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid reject Boris Johnson's coronavirus claim
- 3 Nigel Farage reminded of claim that 'acid test of Brexit' surrounds fishing after clip resurfaces
- 4 Home Office launches voluntary repatriation scheme for EU nationals
- 5 PMQs: Boris Johnson calls for apology from Keir Starmer over coronavirus stances
- 6 Brussels politician says Boris Johnson should 'pay for EU workers to stay' in UK
- 7 Pro-Brexit fishing campaigner says Boris Johnson's deal has left her with 'no fish'
- 8 Michael Gove claims Boris Johnson is a 'huge asset' to Scotland
- 9 Jeremy Corbyn loses bid to release Labour documents ahead of High Court battle
- 10 Boris Johnson is the 'worst PM' and should resign, says Alastair Campbell
Merkel said: 'If Great Britain needs more time we will not oppose it but of course we are seeking an orderly exit. We regret this step, but it is reality and we now have to find a good solution.'
Meanwhile, Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez told the Madrid parliament he would not oppose an extension if it pointed the way to a resolution of the Brexit issue, but warned: 'Prolonging uncertainty by postponing deadlines is not a reasonable nor desirable alternative.'
Become a Supporter
The New European is proud of its journalism and we hope you are proud of it too. We believe our voice is important - both in representing the pro-EU perspective and also to help rebalance the right wing extremes of much of the UK national press. If you value what we are doing, you can help us by making a contribution to the cost of our journalism.