EU agrees new January 31 Brexit deadline
The European Union (EU) on Monday agreed to offer the UK a three-month extension to the Brexit deadline, until January 31 next year.
European Council President Donald Tusk confirmed the decision of the 27 other members of the economic bloc on Twitter, saying a written confirmation process would follow in the coming days.
The EU27 has agreed that it will accept the UK's request for a flextension until January 31, 2020. The decision is expected to be formalised through a written procedure, he said.
The EU's move would mean that the UK will not leave the 28-member block as planned on Thursday.
Tusk said it was a "flextension", meaning the UK could leave the EU before the deadline if a deal was approved by the British parliament.
Tusk will now seek the UK's formal agreement to the decision - before formalising the extension through a written procedure among the 27 other EU nations, which he hopes to conclude by Tuesday or Wednesday.
British MPs are expected to vote on a motion to be ...