EU to consider Brexit extension after UK rejects deal

European leaders will conduct a last-minute round of diplomacy, culminating in an emergency summit two days before the April 12th deadline, following Friday's third rejection of the Brexit deal by the House of Commons.

In the aftermath of the vote on her withdrawal agreement, British prime minister Theresa May hinted at a snap general election and a long delay to Brexit after MPs rejected the agreement by 344 votes to 286, a majority of 58.

Amid the continuing political chaos, EU leaders must decide on whether to offer a long extension of article 50 to the UK – should the British government ask for it – and what conditions they would attach to such a move.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will travel to Paris on Tuesday for a meeting with French president Emmanuel Macron, while German chancellor Angela Merkel comes to Dublin on Thursday to discuss Brexit and no-deal preparations, particularly on the Irish Border.

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Senior sources in Dublin said that Dr Merkel and Mr Macron would likely seek assurances on protecting the single market but that the focus of the meetings would be on finding a way forward.

There are differences between the French and Germans on whether there should be a long extension, with Mr Macron opposed but Dr Merkel anxious to find a way that mitigates the damage of Brexit.

Government Buildings said on Friday that Mr Varadkar would speak to other EU leaders by telephone in the coming days.

Mr Varadkar made clear the Irish preference is for a long extension.

“I believe we must be open to a long extension should the United Kingdom decide to fundamentally reconsider its approach to Brexit and put back on the table options previously ruled out,” he said in a statement.

He said that if the British government revisited its position – for example, on membership of the customs union and single market – it would “result in a generous and understanding response from the 27”.

However, in a position echoed by the European Commission in a statement, Mr Varadkar said it was "now incumbent on the UK to chart a realistic way forward" for consideration at the summit in Brussels.

Both Mr Varadkar and the commission also warned of the growing danger of a no-deal outcome, should the UK be unable to chart a course forward before the April 12th deadline.

Turbulence

If the UK crashes out without a deal on that date, the EU will have to prepare for significant economic and market turbulence, as well as dealing with the consequences of border checks and customs controls.

In Ireland, the Government and the EU authorities would have to decide how to balance the twin but conflicting objectives of keeping the Border open while protecting the EU's single market and customs union.

Mrs May described the implications of the decision as “grave”, adding that the default position was that Britain would leave the EU on April 12th. “I fear we are reaching the limits of this process in this House,” she said.

A Downing Street spokesman declined three times to deny that a general election was now on the table, although that would require a lengthy extension to the article 50 deadline. Mrs May said that parliament would not allow Britain to leave without a deal so if MPs did not approve her Brexit deal before an emergency EU summit on April 10th, she would request a long extension.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the prime minister should finally accept that her Brexit deal was unacceptable and urged her to call a general election.