Malta agrees with granting the UK Brexit extension

Malta would agree to the UK’s request for a Brexit extension, providing the request was justified and would help lead to an orderly exit, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said on Friday. “The ball is in the UK’s court after its Parliament voted against the present deal with the EU. It also voted against leaving the EU without a deal. So the current situation means the UK needs to either accept the deal, or not exit the EU at all”, the Prime Minister said in a statement.He said the European Union would not change its position because it would not compromise over the principles it was built upon: “It is not a case of stubbornness by the EU, but a case of being realistic.”Dr Muscat explained that there were a number of challenges for the UK if given an extension.

“Primarily, the EU treaties are clear: the UK will be expected to organise the European Parliament elections in May, even though these will not have any relevance in the long-term. It is also clear that the UK cannot have a veto on an EU budget that it will not be part of.”

EU leaders on Friday called for clarity from Britain before considering any delay to Brexit after a series of chaotic votes by MPs just two weeks before...