EU to discuss Brexit extension in emergency meeting

By Ata Ufuk Seker

BRUSSELS (AA) - British Prime Minister Theresa May arrived in Brussels on Wednesday to attend the emergency EU summit in which U.K.’s request to delay Brexit will be discussed.

27 member states of EU are set to make a decision on May's plea to extend Article 50 until June 30.

The U.K. triggered Article 50 -- a procedure of two years of negotiations for any leaving member -- on March 29, 2017 after Brits decided to end the more than 40-year partnership with the bloc in a referendum in 2016.

Any extension of Article 50 is subject to approval from the EU's 27 other members.

“What is important is that any extension enables us to leave at the point at which we ratify the withdrawal agreement,” May said, following her arrival in Brussels.

Meanwhile, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said: "I favor, if there is a broad majority for this today, possibly making it a delay of several months — but not delaying anything, so that once Britain has decided the withdrawal can happen immediately".

Speaking to reporters, Merkel said Brexit should be done "orderly" without harming the unity of EU and the interests of member states.

Although respecting the decision of British people to leave EU, French President Emmanuel Macron showed signs of discontent in his evaluation of the Brexit process.

"Nothing should compromise the European project," Macron told reporters, and added "nothing is decided".

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has suggested that the U.K. would be able to have a say in trade deals if it forms a customs union with the EU.

Lithuanian and Swedish leaders have also agreed with President of EU Council Donald Tusk's recommendation to extend Brexit.

"Given the risks posed by a no-deal Brexit for people and businesses on both sides of the English Channel, I trust that we will continue to do our utmost to avoid this scenario. Therefore I propose that we consider Prime Minister May's request for an extension at our meeting tomorrow," Tusk said in a letter to member states on Tuesday.