President of Slovenia backs Brexit extension, adding ‘a lot’ more EU states would do the same
The President of Slovenia has said his country and many others in the EU would be open to an extension of the Brexit leaving date.
Prime Minister Theresa may this week said MPs would get a vote over whether to ask for an extension to Britain’s March 29 exit date for more negotiation if her revised Brexit deal is rejected this month.
Read more: EU ready to give UK more guarantees Irish backstop is temporary
On Saturday morning, President Borut Pahor said: “I think Slovenia and a lot of other countries would say yes [to an extension]. Nobody wants to see a hard Brexit in any kind of chaotic way.
“I think that extension of time would be an option,” Pahor told Sky News.
Yesterday it emerged the European Union is prepared to offer more guarantees to the UK that the Irish border backstop is only intended to be temporary with less than two weeks until parliament vote on May's deal.
Read more: Michel Barnier warns no-deal Brexit remains possible
The bloc’s chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, has labelled the backstop as an “insurance” but has moved to try and ease fears by reiterating that it would not be permanent.
MPs have expressed fears the backstop could keep the UK tied to EU regulations for years after Brexit, leading to May’s deal being overwhelmingly rejected by parliament in January.