The bloc has set a deadline of April 12 for a decision on Brexit, with two likely options: Britain leaves with no deal at all, or agrees to a longer extension to allow time for a new exit strategy. “We have had a lot of patience with our British friends, but even patience wears thin. I would like for Britain to reach an agreement on the way forward within the coming hours or days,” Mr Juncker, there head of the European Commission told Italian state TV RAI. He said: “So far we know what the British parliament has said no to, but we don’t know what it will say yes to.”
Lawmakers rejected Prime Minister Theresa May’s EU divorce deal for a third time on Friday, paving the way for a long delay to Brexit or a messy no deal exit in two weeks’ time.
Britain had been due to quit the bloc on Friday March 29, billed as “Independence Day” by Brexiteers. But with parliament deadlocked over the conditions of the EU divorce, Mrs May asked European leaders for a little more time.
The EU has set a deadline of April 12 for a final decision.
Lawmakers now have unprecedented powers to vote on various options for Britain's future relationship with the EU. But they have repeatedly rejected a “no-deal” exit, fearing severe trade disruption if the UK cuts ties with its closest trading partner with no plan in place.
The options that have so far garnered the most support involve closer ties to the bloc, and a second people’s vote.
Asked if a second referendum might be possible, Mr Juncker said that was “an issue exclusively for the British people”.
President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker (Image: Dursun Aydemir/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
British Prime Minister Theresa May (Image: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
He said: “They must decide which tools they will use to complete the [Brexit] process.”
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