London gives EU two more months to ratify deal

Two more months: this is the time given by the United Kingdom to the European Parliament to ratify the post-Brexit trade agreement. London has accepted Brussels’ request to extend the agreement’s provisional application period until April 30, a British government spokesperson said on Tuesday.

“Today, we agreed to extend until April 30 the deadline for the EU to ratify the agreement,” said the spokesperson.

A text of more than 1,200 pages

Provisional application of the treaty, which entered into force on January 1, was initially due to end on February 28, but Parliament quickly warned that it would need more time.

“It is disappointing that the EU has not completed its internal procedures within the agreed timeframe, given the uncertainty this creates for businesses and citizens on both sides. We expect the EU to respect the new timetable, ”insisted the British spokesperson. The in-depth examination of the 1,250-page text by the European Parliament began in mid-January. MEPs hope to vote for it in March.