The European Union has forced Britain to accept a six-month delay to the intractable Brexit process, with an option to leave earlier if the UK Parliament can agree a deal, at a tense summit of divided European leaders in Brussels.

After a working dinner that dragged long into the evening, leaders of the 27 remaining nations agreed another delay to Britain’s scheduled withdrawal from the EU, this time until October 31. European leaders were unconvinced by Prime Minister Theresa May’s promise that the UK would get its house in order to leave by the end of June.

But the deal was only reached after six hours of horse trading that saw European leaders divided over how to deal with Britain’s ongoing political crisis. President of the European Council Donald Tusk, who had originally proposed an extension of up to a year, confirmed the UK had accepted the deal.

“This extension is as flexible as I expected and a little bit shorter than I expected, but it is still enough to find the best possible solution,” he told reporters in Brussels. And he had a stark warning for British politicians who have been deadlocked for months: “Please do not waste this time.”

May had sought a shorter delay to June 30 in order to avoid the UK crashing out without a deal later this week. The UK was meant to leave the EU on March 29, this was later extended to April 12.

The new extension, which falls on Halloween, means that Britain will more than likely have to hold elections for the European Parliament on May 23, nearly three years after the British people voted to leave the EU. May has always said she never wanted the UK to take part in those elections.

The fright night deadline, a day before the new European Commission is due to take office, was the product of grueling debate.

French President Emmanuel Macron, whose patience has worn thin and wants to get on with his own project of reforming the EU, had advocated for a shorter Brexit extension, while the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, argued the delay should be extended.

It is understood that Macron originally didn’t see any reason to grant Britain a delay beyond the end of June, but was persuaded to accept the October deadline.

Macron did manage to force the other leaders to agree to a review process at the end of June, when Britain will be assessed on assurances that it will remain a constructive partner in EU business, even if it is on the way out of the bloc.Speaking in the early hours of Friday, after the summit ended, Tusk hinted at the divisions, saying that despite their differing positions it was still “easier to find unity here than in the House of Commons.”

“Until the end of this period, the UK will also have the possibility to revoke Article 50 and cancel Brexit altogether,” Tusk said, noting that the delay allowed the UK to “reconsider”‘ its Brexit strategy.
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said there would “probably” be European elections held in the UK, which “may seem a bit odd, but rules are rules.”

If the UK does not take part in the European Parliament elections in late May it would be required to leave on June 1 without a deal, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said on Twitter.

The European leaders will reconvene in June to take stock.

Follow N1 via mobile apps for Android | iPhone/iPad | Windows| and social media on Twitter | Facebook.