EU 'formally adopts' Brexit deadline extension

LONDON (AA) – The European Union has “formally adopted” a flexible extension to Brexit deadline until Jan. 31, 2020, European Council President Donald Tusk announced Tuesday.

“The EU27 has formally adopted the extension,” Tusk tweeted.

“It may be the last one,” he said, signaling there could be no more extension. He also appealed to Britain to “make the best use of this time.”

The extension was agreed on earlier this week by the 27 members of the union.

The U.K. was set to leave the EU on Oct. 31 but a new extension granted by the bloc has furthered the deadline to Jan. 31, 2020. The “flextension” can be cut short if Britain can ratify the revised deal of Johnson on a date earlier than the deadline.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who had insisted that the U.K. would leave the EU on Oct. 31, had to ask for an extension after failing in a vote that would fast-track the legislation of his deal last week.

The EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill passed the first stage of legislative process last week but the process was paused by Johnson when he failed to receive approval on a timetable to make it law before the deadline of Oct. 31.

On Tuesday, the House of Commons is set to vote a bill that will legislate an early general election in early December.

The UK decided to leave the union in a 2016 referendum.