Tusk 'Flextension' proposal could allow UK to leave EU on July: Official

A proposal by European Council President Donald Tusk for a year-long Brexit delay would allow the United Kingdom to leave on July 1 as well if its parliament has ratified the EU divorce deal by then, a senior official within the bloc said on Friday. Asked how to reconcile the proposal by Tusk - who will chair the Apr. 10 summit of EU leaders on Brexit - with Prime Minister Theresa May's request for a second Brexit postponement only until June 30, 2019, the source said:

"Flextension allows for leaving the EU on July 1 as well. Only that they would have to finalise the ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement by then," the senior official told Reuters on condition of anonymity. Tusk's idea for a 'flex tension' - or a 'flexible extension' of the process of the UK leaving the EU - would allow for it to be cut short if the House of Commons passes May's exit deal before the extension runs its course.