20 February 2019 10:50 am
Brussels (dpa) - The European Union has given one of its strongest signals yet that it would allow Britain to delay its departure from the bloc.
The apparent stalemate in Brexit negotiations between London and Brussels has led to widespread speculation about a delay past the deadline of March 29. The president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, said that if the British government asked for an extension, it would most likely be granted.
“Any decision to ask for more time lies with the UK. If such a request were to be made, no one in Europe would oppose it.
“If you are asking for how long the withdrawal can be postponed, I have no time frame in mind,” he said in an interview with German newspaper the Stuttgarter Zeitung to be published in its print edition on Tuesday, but previewed online on Monday.
“When it comes to Brexit, it is like being before the courts or on the high seas; we are in God’s hands,” he commented.