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在线翻译:
szdaily -> World -> 
EU gives Britain 6-month delay to Brexit date
    2019-04-12  08:53    Shenzhen Daily

EUROPEAN leaders agreed with Britain on Thursday to delay Brexit by up to six months, saving the continent from what could have been a chaotic no-deal departure at the end of the week.

The deal struck during late night talks in Brussels means that if London remains in the EU after May 22, British voters will have to take part in European elections.

U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May and the other 27 EU leaders “have agreed a flexible extension until Oct. 31”, European Council president Donald Tusk said in a tweet.

“This means additional six months for the U.K. to find the best possible solution.”

France’s President Emmanuel Macron was the strongest voice opposing a long extension, but most leaders backed it and the French had to settle for a promise that the delay will be reviewed at an EU summit June 21.

Most of the leaders gathered for the emergency summit, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, had backed a plan for Brexit to be postponed for up to a year.

But as the talks went into Thursday morning, Macron — with backing from Belgium, Austria and some smaller EU states — held out for a short delay of only a few weeks and demanded solid guarantees that London would not interfere in EU business during that time.

May has already said that if Britain is still an EU member when the European parliamentary election begins May 23, U.K. voters will take part. But some EU leaders are unconvinced that she is sincere, despite one official telling reporters her presentation had been “solid.”

Without a postponement, Britain would have ended its 46-year membership in the EU at midnight Friday with no deal, risking economic chaos on both sides of the Channel.

May agreed to a divorce deal with the EU last November, but MPs in London have rejected it three times, forcing her to turn to the main opposition Labour party in a bid to find a way through. (SD-Agencies)

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