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Berlin can agree to Brexit delay if British Parliament backs May's deal: Merkel

Reuters
Berlin, GermanyUpdated: Mar 21, 2019, 05:14 PM IST
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Leaders of the SPD and the conservative camp thrashed out a 28-page blueprint for a possible "GroKo" grand coalition government this week, recommending that their parties hold formal coalition talks. Photograph:(Reuters)

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May has asked European Council President Donald Tusk to delay Brexit from March 29 until the end of June and said she was preparing for a third vote in the British parliament on the exit deal she arduously negotiated with the European Union.

Germany is prepared to agree to Britain's request for a postponement of Brexit if the parliament in London backs British Prime Minister Theresa May's exit deal, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday (March 21).

The European Union requires unanimous agreement from all member states to grant an extension to the so-called "Article 50" process that currently envisages a British exit from the European Union on March 29.

"I believe we can say, as Germany, we can meet that request," Merkel told German legislators ahead of Thursday's European Council meeting.

Merkel warned that an extension of the Brexit deadline to June 30, as requested by May, would be complicated because of the question of Britain's possible participation in the European Parliament elections.