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Donald Tusk has put Brexit on hold, saying that European leaders would only agree to a delay if MEPs supported Theresa May's agreement next week on a dramatic day in Brussels and London.
After receiving the Prime Minister's official letter late, asking for a three-month extension of Article 50 and making a phone call with her in the late afternoon, the President of the European Council admitted that her success seemed frail , even illusory "on the eve of Thursday's summit.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas tweeted: "Theresa May's letter has not solved any problem yet. If the European Council [summit of leaders] is to decide on an extension of the deadline for Britain, we would like to know what is the concrete purpose. "
But Mr Tusk said the EU would seek until the last minute to prevent the UK from collapsing without an agreement and to show "patience and good will" despite "Brexit fatigue" in capitals.
Heads of state or government of the EU27 are likely to give their agreement in principle at Thursday's summit to an extension until 23 May or 30 June, and to sign it without having to meet next week to eventually find a majority in the country. Commons at the third time, he said.
The European Commission insists that an extension beyond the date of the European elections of 23 May would require the election of British MEPs, although others believe that there is little risk as long as the UK left before 1 July, when parliament officially meets.
"In light of the consultations I have conducted over the past few days, I think that a short extension will be possible, but will depend on a positive vote on the withdrawal agreement to the House of Commons, "said Tusk.
"One question remains unresolved as to the duration of such an extension. Prime Minister May's proposal of June 30, which has its merits, raises a series of questions of a legal and political nature. The leaders will discuss it tomorrow. "
Echoing the comments of Jean-Claude Juncker, his counterpart at the European Commission earlier in the day, Tusk added that he would bring leaders back to an "extraordinary summit" if the May deal was again rejected by the European Commission. Communal room.
Brussels is waiting for the British government to request a long extension and hold European elections, if the agreement fails in the House of Commons on the third occasion, in order to allow time for inter-party talks on a flexible Brexit, a general election or a second party. referendum.
Tusk's comments came at the end of a day during which he appeared at one point that there would be no demand letter from Downing Street at all. The content when it arrived came as a surprise.
May's de facto deputy, David Lidington, who was in Brussels on Tuesday, had hinted to EU diplomats that the UK government would ask for a long extension with an option to leave after three months if the agreement were to pbad.
After a stormy cabinet meeting, however, a letter from Downing Street did not appear overnight, as expected. At its inception, only one request for an extension to June 30 was requested to allow time for the adoption of a Market Withdrawal Act if the main contract was approved.
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Frustration and "tension", as described by a top EU diplomat, were clearly explained by French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, who told the French parliament on Wednesday afternoon that Paris was ready to block an extension.
He said that there were only two ways to leave the EU: ratify the withdrawal agreement or exit without agreement. If Parliament has not ratified the withdrawal agreement, "the central scenario is an exit without agreement," he said, adding, "We are ready."
He said that if May could not present "sufficient guarantees of the credibility of her strategy", it would lead to the refusal of the extension and to an exit without agreement.
A top diplomat in Brussels added to May's request: "We now have before us a letter of which we are not sure that the content enjoys democratic support in the United Kingdom".
A second EU diplomat said: "This strategy of delay, prolongation, irresponsibility and inability to work in the House will be the answer I will give to my mother and to my colleagues. friends asking them how I contributed to this mess ".
May will address EU leaders Thursday afternoon, before they deliberate without her on how to react.
In Dublin, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar urged the EU to minimize the efforts of the British government to reach an agreement on Brexit through Parliament.
"There is a real risk of no transaction by accident," he said. "It is now time to give the British government a little room for extension."
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