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Emmanuel Macron warned that Britain was heading for a Brexit without agreement, unless the House of Commons ratifies the withdrawal agreement negotiated with Brussels.
The decisive choice of MEPs was announced by the French president shortly before the 27 EU heads of state and government hear an appeal from Theresa May calling for a three-month deadline for Brexit.
"In the case of a no vote or a no, this will guide everyone to a" no deal ", of course," Macron said. "That's it, we're ready."
The British Prime Minister is calling on the EU to postpone Brexit until June 30 to allow enough time to adopt the necessary withdrawal legislation if it contracts in the House of Commons next week.
Arriving at the summit, May told reporters, "I am here today to discuss with other leaders a short extension of Article 50 until the end of the month of June.
"As I said yesterday, this delay is a personal regret for me. But a short extension would give Parliament time to make a final choice that will take into account the outcome of the referendum. "
The EU must reject this plea but accept in principle a shorter extension of Article 50 until May 22, in order to avoid any complications due to the absence of the EU. European elections in the United Kingdom.
France has been one of the most virulent members of the EU insisting that a long delay in Brexit should only be granted if there is a big change in British politics, such as a majority for a different type of future relationship with the bloc.
Macron, however, seemed to downplay the importance of such an evolution, baderting that he needed a "clear majority" for a different term.
"No extension either, there is no clear majority to give a mandate on future relations," he said. "We must respect the will of the British people, but also the European project. European leaders understand and respect the will of the British people, but we defend the interests of our people.
"We are ready for Brexit. France did not choose that, the British did it. We can be sorry, but we have had the time to prepare ourselves, legally and technically. The European project must continue and must be stronger. "
The President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, said the situation "would improve" if MEPs backed the withdrawal agreement.
But he added: "Otherwise, we will have to meet again next week … we do not exclude that, we do not welcome it either, but I hope that the British Parliament will agree with what Ms. May and J & # I negotiated last week in Strasbourg. "
A special summit, which could be held next Thursday in Brussels, could be the opportunity to approve a longer deadline for Brexit – in the event of a dramatic change in British politics – or a chance to finalize preparations for a non-agreement.
When asked when Juncker would lose patience with Westminster, he replied, "I did not even know that I had so much patience."
EU diplomats warned that there was more and more sense in Brussels and in some capitals that there was "nothing left to do – we finished" .
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said: "If there is no support in Parliament, a scenario of" no agreement "becomes more realistic, which is neither good for the United Kingdom, nor for us in the European Union. "
German Chancellor Angela Merkel gave hope to Downing Street when she arrived at the summit. "Everyone is aware that this [summit] It's a historic event and that's why we have to treat it carefully and work until the last minute to get a regulated exit, "she said.
Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel spoke of his frustration with the process. He said: "I have the feeling of being in the waiting room of Godot and that Godot never comes."
He stated that his "greatest wish" was that the United Kingdom would change in favor of a second referendum, in which the electorate would be "really informed of the situation".
Bettel added that "all the people who lied" and those who promised a British exit without consequences could be described as "the bad guys of Brexit".
The President of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani, said that he could hold a "special session" of the chamber after the last session in April in order to ratify the agreement on Brexit. This scenario would imply that hundreds of MEPs are removed from the election campaign to bring the Brexit deal to a successful conclusion.
"Any choice that would take us beyond the European elections would cause serious prejudice and serious legal problems," Tajani said.
He added that Parliament would prefer that the extension be set for 18 April at the latest, when the UK government will have to notify its participation in the elections, while noting that the decision is up to the EU leaders.
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