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Brexit: UK 'may consider longer transition period' Brexit: UK 'may consider longer transition period'
(about 1 hour later)
Theresa May is willing to consider extending the proposed 21-month transition period after Brexit to break the current deadlock over Northern Ireland, senior EU officials have said.Theresa May is willing to consider extending the proposed 21-month transition period after Brexit to break the current deadlock over Northern Ireland, senior EU officials have said.
The BBC's Laura Kuenssberg said No 10 had refused to rule out extending it during a summit in Brussels.The BBC's Laura Kuenssberg said No 10 had refused to rule out extending it during a summit in Brussels.
The PM has been addressing EU leaders in the hope of advancing the process.The PM has been addressing EU leaders in the hope of advancing the process.
But EU officials said insufficient progress had been made to call a special summit of leaders next month. EU officials said insufficient progress had been made to call a special summit of leaders next month to draft a deal.
The two sides are currently proposing an implementation period from 30 March 2019 until 31 December 2020. But they said talks should continue in the hope of forging an agreement as soon as possible.
The BBC's political editor said extending it until to the end of 2021, as has been proposed by the EU, would cause a "lot of hostility" among Tory Brexiteers as it would substantially extend the period during which the UK would remain subject to EU rules without having a say in them. After speaking to her 27 counterparts for about 20 minutes, Mrs May said she remained confident of a "good outcome" and called for "courage, trust and leadership" on both sides.
The UK is due to leave the EU on 29 March 2019 but an agreement on how this will happen is currently proving elusive amid differences over how to prevent a hard border on the island of Ireland. The UK is due to leave the EU on 29 March 2019 - but an agreement on how this will happen is proving elusive amid differences over how to prevent a hard border in Ireland.
The prime minister spoke for about 15 minutes at a dinner of all 28 EU leaders, after which they will decide what their next move should be. The UK has signed up to the principle of a backstop - an insurance policy designed to prevent the need for customs checks at the border between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic unless and until a new economic partnership is agreed with the EU.
The president of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani, welcomed what he said was Mrs May's constructive tone but added that she had offered "nothing new" of substance. But the two sides cannot agree over what form it will take and how long it will last. EU leaders are now proposing extending the post-Brexit transition period.
'Reassurance' As it stands, it stands would last from 30 March 2019 until 31 December 2020. But it could run until the end of 2021 - in the hope that it would give both sides more time to agree a future partnership and ensure the backstop is never applied.
Mr Tajani suggested that Mrs May had shown willingness to look into the possibility of extending the proposed 21-month transition period following Brexit to three years. The transition period, during which the UK would abide by the rules of the single market and customs union, is designed to prevent a "cliff-edge" for business.
The BBC's political editor said extending it further would cause a "lot of hostility" among Tory Brexiteers, who argue it would leave the UK as a "vassal" state subject to EU rules without having a seat at the table and also having to make contiued payments to Brussels, albeit smaller than now.
Brexiteers claimed Mrs May had conceded ground again without getting anything in return. One long-term critic, Nadine Dorries MP, said it was time for her to let someone else negotiate.
The president of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani, suggested Mrs May was "neutral" on the idea of extending the transition but had shown willingness to look into the possibility.
He welcomed what he said was Mrs May's constructive tone but added that she had offered "nothing new" of substance in her speech.
"Both sides mentioned the idea of an extension of the transition period as one possibility which is on the table and would have to be looked into," he said."Both sides mentioned the idea of an extension of the transition period as one possibility which is on the table and would have to be looked into," he said.
"She underlined the importance of the issue but she didn't say anything in terms of content."She underlined the importance of the issue but she didn't say anything in terms of content.
"She said we will keep under consideration the issue of the transition period but she did not say anything in favour or against the three-year period.""She said we will keep under consideration the issue of the transition period but she did not say anything in favour or against the three-year period."
The UK has said the transition period, dependent on an overall deal being agreed, is necessary to stop a "cliff-edge" for business and give the two sides time to agree their future relationship. While not commenting on the transition issue, No 10 said Mrs May had asked EU leaders to work with the UK to find a creative way out of their current dilemmas.
Earlier, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said a longer transition period was not a substitute for an agreement on the so-called Irish backstop, designed to prevent the need for customs checks at the border between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic until a wider trade deal is done. Downing Street emphasised the solution lay in agreeing a future framework for an ambitious trade deal so the backstop would not apply.
But he said it would have some merits, adding "if it did help to reassure people that the backstop would never be activated, that would be a positive thing". Earlier, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said a longer transition period was not a substitute for a concrete agreement over the backstop.
BBC political correspondent Nick Eardley, in Brussels, said EU sources suggested the PM had given a "relatively positive assessment" and while there was goodwill on both sides "we are not where we would have liked to be". But he said the idea would have some merit, adding "if it did help to reassure people that the backstop would never be activated, that would be a positive thing".
He said the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, would update leaders on the preparedness for all scenarios including no deal. Mrs May held separate talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, Mr Varadkar, and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, in what British officials characterised as "constructive and serious conversations".