Reuters: EU leaders Aim to Hold Special Brexit summit in November

European Union leaders aim to hold a special Brexit summit in November, when they hope they will be able to sign a "divorce" deal between the UK and the EU, European diplomats and officials said on Monday, according to Reuters.

Britain is to leave the EU on March 29, 2019, but to date there is no agreement with Brussels on future relations, and some British MPs support the idea of organizing a new referendum, such as the one in June 2016, when a majority of the British electorate voted for the country's exit from the European Union.

As the Irish border is still an unresolved issue in negotiations between London and EU, European Foreign Affairs Ministers will discuss next Tuesday about holding an extraordinary summit, as Member States no longer expect a London-Brussels agreement to be concluded at the 18-19 October European Council.

Earlier on Monday, EU’s Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier estimated at a conference in Slovenia that a UK-EU divorce agreement could be concluded in six to eight weeks, if negotiators are realistic in their demands.

Some diplomats consider this extraordinary summit could take place on November 13, while others believe it is premature to advance a date of the summit.

Several EU officials claim that an agreement with London in December this year or even January 2019 would leave about enough time to be ratified by the British and EU parliaments.

Most unlikely scenario, but one that some European diplomats take into account, is that the UK will ask for a prolongation of talks with the EU after March 29, 2019, the country's actual exit from the EU. Such a change would be extremely complicated for British Prime Minister Theresa May, who is under strong pressure from members of the Conservative Party to respect the agreed timetable.

Possible extension of negotiations should be agreed unanimously by the other 27 EU Member States.

Source:RRA, Reuters.Translated by Miruna Matei