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Agence France-Presse

The European Union’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier on Thursday repeated a call for a decision from London on its withdrawal deal, rather than seeking to delay the exit date.
“Today, we need above all a decision, it’s more important than extra time,” Barnier told a news conference in Vienna, adding that the Brexit process stood at a “grave moment”.

European leaders have already warned that any postponement of the two-year Article 50 process would come with conditions.
Britain is due to leave the European Union on March 29 but is currently on course to do so without a deal after British MPs overwhelmingly rejected the withdrawal agreement in January.
May promises Brexit could be delayed, as MPs back her new strategy
“The duration of any extension would be linked to the question of what to do with the time,” Barnier said. “If it’s to sort out a technical question, it could be a few weeks to go up to the eve of the European elections.”
Barnier also raised the possibility of a longer extension in the case of “new British choices” but pointed out that “if at the time of the European elections the British are members of the Union, legally speaking they like other countries would have the obligation to organise elections.”


He re-iterated that the withdrawal agreement negotiated between the EU and the UK could not be changed.
Gesturing to the voluminous text of the agreement in front of him, Barnier said: “We have finished work! This text is the result of considerable effort that we have made with the British, not against them.”
Barnier said that talks with the UK government would continue next week.
UK opposition leader Corbyn supports new Brexit referendum
He was speaking after talks with Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, who also pointed to the problem that the European elections in May pose for any extension.
“The participation of a country that wishes to leave the European Union in European elections would be more than absurd,” Kurz said.

“So our goal has to be that the exit, if it has to happen, happens in an orderly fashion,” he added.
However, if the House of Commons once again rejected the agreement with the EU in a vote scheduled to take place by March 12, Austria would be in favour of a shorter extension if necessary in order to avoid a hard Brexit, Kurz said.
Fury as Theresa May postpones vote on Brexit deal
British Prime Minister Theresa May is seeking changes to a withdrawal agreement struck with the EU late last year, which she hopes will be enough to get it through parliament’s lower House of Commons.
But if she fails, she has promised MPs votes on March 13 and March 14 on whether to leave the bloc without a deal, and if not, to seek a short delay.


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Brexit

EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier says UK ‘decision is more important than extra time’

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (right) and European Union chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier arrive for a press conference at the federal chancellery in Vienna. Photo: AP Photo

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz adresses the media during a joint press conference with European Union chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier at the federal chancellery in Vienna, Austria, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Gruber)

European Union chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier addresses the media during a joint press conference with Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz at the federal chancellery in Vienna, Austria, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Gruber)

British PM Theresa May promises Brexit could be delayed, as MPs back her new strategy – and EU warns of new conditions

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May leaves the Houses of Parliament in London on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

Britain's main opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, centre right, stands to talk to lawmakers inside parliament, London, Wednesday Feb. 27, 2019. Prime Minister Theresa May insisted Wednesday that Britain will leave the European Union on schedule next month, amid signs that her promise to give Parliament a vote on delaying Brexit was boosting support for her unpopular EU divorce deal. (Mark Duffy/UK Parliament via AP)

Remain in the European Union demonstrators hold up electrically lit letter asking for a 'People's Vote' opposite the Palace of Westminster in London, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. British Prime Minister Theresa May says she will give British lawmakers a choice of approving her Brexit divorce agreement, leaving the EU March 29 without a deal, or asking to delay Brexit by up to three months. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May speaks to lawmakers in parliament, London, Wednesday Feb. 27, 2019. May insisted Wednesday that Britain will leave the European Union on schedule next month, amid signs that her promise to give Parliament a vote on delaying Brexit was boosting support for her unpopular EU divorce deal. (Mark Duffy/UK Parliament via AP)

UK PM Theresa May says parliament can vote on any Brexit delay

Richard Harrington Photo: Facebook

A video grab from footage broadcast by the UK Parliament's Parliamentary Recording Unit (PRU) Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May as she makes a statement to the House of Commons in London on February 26, 2019. - Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May faced mounting pressure Tuesday from her own government to delay Brexit after the main opposition Labour Party raised the prospect of a second referendum. (Photo by HO / PRU / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT " AFP PHOTO / PRU " - NO USE FOR ENTERTAINMENT, SATIRICAL, MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS

Claire Perry Photo: Facebook

Margot James. Photo: Facebook

Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May making a statement to the House of Commons in London on February 26, 2019. Photo by AFP/PRU

UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn supports second Brexit referendum, bowing to party pressure

Britain's main opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn gives a speech at the Labour Women's Conference in Telford, England, Saturday Feb. 23, 2019. Parliament will consider various Brexit options during this coming week, even as Prime Minister Theresa May continues to seek concessions from her EU counterparts. (Aaron Chown/PA via AP)

Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn addresses a rally on Saturday in Broxtowe, central England. Photo: AFP

‘The height of irresponsibility’: fury as British Prime Minister Theresa May postpones vote on Brexit deal

British Prime Minister Theresa May speaks with the media as she arrives for an EU-Arab summit at the Sharm el-Sheikh convention centre. Photo: AP Photo

British Prime Minister Theresa May, center, walks in the hallway at an EU-Arab summit at the Sharm El Sheikh convention center in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019. British Prime Minister Theresa May is set to hold Brexit talks with European Council President Donald Tusk ahead of a potentially pivotal week for her plans to lead her country out of the European Union. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

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Europe

Speaking in Vienna, Barnier said that Britain should not look to postpone its divorce from the EU, saying the process is at a ‘grave moment’


Speaking in Vienna, Barnier said that Britain should not look to postpone its divorce from the EU, saying the process is at a ‘grave moment’.


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European Union

Theresa May

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EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier says UK ‘decision is more important than extra time’

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}Speaking in Vienna, Barnier said that Britain should not look to postpone its divorce from the EU, saying the process is at a ‘grave moment’

Speaking in Vienna, Barnier said that Britain should not look to postpone its divorce from the EU, saying the process is at a ‘grave moment’