May likely to get second Brexit extension from EU: reports

The European Union is reportedly expected to grant Prime Minister Theresa May a second delay to Brexit at a summit Wednesday.

EU leaders are gathering in Berlin for an emergency summit dedicated to Brexit and May is expected to ask for a delay on Britain’s departure from the EU until June, Reuters reported. The United Kingdom is currently scheduled to leave the bloc on Friday.

{mosads}But under a draft of conclusions from the summit seen by Reuters, Britain would be granted a longer extension with no specific deadline date. 

European Council President Donald Tusk suggested the longer delay in a letter sent earlier this week to EU leaders.

“Our experience so far, as well as the deep divisions within the House of Commons, give us little reason to believe that the ratification process can be completed by the end of June. In reality, granting such an extension would increase the risk of a rolling series of short extensions and emergency summits, creating new cliff-edge dates. This, in turn, would almost certainly overshadow the business of the EU27 in the months ahead,” Tusk wrote.

“The continued uncertainty would also be bad for our businesses and citizens. Finally, if we failed to agree on any next extension, there would be a risk of an accidental no-deal Brexit. This is why I believe we should also discuss an alternative, longer extension,” he added.

Britain was previously scheduled to leave the European Union in March but was granted an extension until April 12, and May has since sought another extension.