1、CRS INSIGHT Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress INSIGHTINSIGHTi i Brexit Extended Derek E. Mix Analyst in European Affairs April 18, 2019 New Deadline Is End of October 2019 The departure of the United Kingdom (UK) from the European Union (EU), known as “Brexit,” was originally scheduled
2、 for March 29, 2019. The UK House of Commons has repeatedly rejected the withdrawal agreement that the UK government negotiated with the EU, however, while also opposing the “no-deal” option of leaving the EU without a withdrawal agreement. On March 22, EU leaders agreed to extend the UKs departure
3、date to May 22, 2019, provided the UK could approve the agreement by April 12, 2019. As that deadline drew near, EU leaders at an emergency European Council summit on April 10, 2019, agreed to offer the UK a new “flexible” extension until October 31, 2019, with an earlier departure possible upon app
4、roval of the agreement. In both instances, UK Prime Minister Theresa May had requested a three-month extension to June 30. Paramount to the EUs decision was preserving the integrity of the European Parliament elections scheduled for May 23-26, 2019. The extension means that the UK must prepare to pa