Germany welcomes May’s Brexit delay request

By Ayhan Simsek

BERLIN (AA) - German government has welcomed Wednesday British Prime Minister Theresa May’s request for delaying Brexit until June 30.

Speaking at a news conference in Berlin, Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman said the leaders of all other 27 EU member states will discuss May’s request during a summit in Brussels on Thursday and Friday.

“We welcome that there is a clear request now by the United Kingdom,” said Steffen Seibert, adding that this would provide the basis for intensive discussions among the leaders.

“As you know, a decision on an extension requires the unanimous agreement,” he stressed.

After British lawmakers rejected her Brexit deal twice, Theresa May announced on Wednesday that she wrote a letter to European leaders and requested delaying Brexit beyond the March 29 deadline.

“As prime minister, I am not prepared to delay Brexit any further than June 30,” she told lawmakers at a weekly question session in the House of Commons.

The new date for Brexit, if approved by all other 27 members of the EU, will see the U.K. avoid joining the European parliament elections due in May.

British premier also said the government will hold another meaningful vote.

U.K. voters decided to leave the union in a 2016 referendum.