EU and U.K. Agree to Six-Month 'Flexible' Brexit Extension

The European Union and the United Kingdom have agreed to an extension until Oct. 31 of the U.K.’s planned withdrawal from the EU, said European Council President Donald Tusk on twitter. Under the “flexible” six-month extension, the U.K. could still ratify the extension agreement, at which point the extension would be “terminated,” or even revoke Article 50 altogether and remain in the EU, Tusk said at a press conference following discussions among European leaders April 10 in Brussels. The extension includes plans for an “assessment” by the European Council in June, but European leaders will at that point only be “taking stock” of the situation. It won’t be a negotiating session, said European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker at the press conference. “June is not a cliff edge,” Tusk said.