EU leaders are likely to agree to a further extension of the Brexit process when they meet next week but are divided on whether to grant a short extension – as requested by UK prime minister Theresa May – or a longer period that opens the door for a possible reversal of Brexit.
High-level sources in Dublin and Brussels
say discussions continue at European level with some countries, notably
France, opposed to a long extension and continuing UK involvement in EU
decision-making.
However, they expect that the outcome will be a long extension with conditions attached.
Fears that a
future prime minister from the Brexiteer wing of the Conservative Party
could disrupt EU business, such as selecting the next European
Commission and approving the next seven-year budget, were heightened
yesterday when leading Brexiteer MP Jacob Rees-Mogg suggested that the
UK would block EU decisions if it remained in the bloc.
Read more at: EU leaders divided over length of Brexit extension