Next EU chief Ursula von der Leyen says she would agree to a further Brexit delay

Next EU chief Ursula von der Leyen says Brexit can be delayed AGAIN for a ‘good reason’ such as a general election or second referendum

  • Ursula von der Leyen is in the process of trying to persuade MEPs to vote for her
  • Secret ballot taking place tomorrow with Mrs von der Leyen needing a majority
  • If she is backed by MEPs she will replace Jean-Claude Juncker on November 1
  • She said she would agree another Brexit delay if there is a ‘good reason’ to do so 

Jean-Claude Juncker’s potential replacement as the president of the European Commission has said she is open to a further Brexit delay – but only if it is for a ‘good reason’. 

Ursula von der Leyen said in a letter to MEPs that if she is elected as Mr Juncker’s successor then she will strive to secure an ‘ambitious and strategic partnership’ with the UK. 

In a major boost for Remain campaigners she said that she would support a further extension beyond the current October 31 deadline. 

But she also insisted that the Withdrawal Agreement negotiated with Theresa May is still the ‘best and only possible deal for an orderly withdrawal’. 

Her comments on the finality of the current deal highlight the strength of opposition likely to face Boris Johnson and his plan to renegotiate the terms of Britain’s divorce from the bloc if he becomes PM next week. 

Brexit has already been delayed twice since the original March 29 deadline.  

Urusal von der Leyen will learn tomorrow whether she wull replace Jean-Claude Juncker as president of the European Commission

Ms von der Leyen is trying to persuade MEPs to back her candidacy and has told them in a letter that she would agree a further Brexit delay

Ms von der Leyen is trying to persuade MEPs to back her candidacy and has told them in a letter that she would agree a further Brexit delay 

Ms von der Leyen was chosen by the leaders of the EU’s 28 member states to be Mr Juncker’s replacement. 

But she must win the backing of a majority of MEPs at a secret ballot due to take place tomorrow in order to become the first female president of the European Commission.  

The German defence minister used a letter to socialist and liberal MEPs today to make a series of promises as she sought to persuade them to back her appointment. 

She concluded her letter with a lengthy passage on her Brexit vision as she said: ‘If elected, I am ready to pave the way to the ambitious and strategic partnership we want to build with the United Kingdom. 

‘Should more time be required and should there be good reasons provided, I will support a further extension if good reasons are provided.’  

Ms von der Leyen expressed her ‘regret’ that the UK had voted to leave the EU in June 2016 but added: ‘I fully respect this decision.’

‘The Withdrawal Agreement negotiated with the United Kingdom is the best and only deal possible for an orderly withdrawal,’ she said, according to a copy of the letter published by The Independent. 

Mrs von der Leyen will need the support of an absolute majority of MEPs to be installed in the job which comes with a five year term. 

There are concerns among some senior figures in Brussels that she could fall short of that majority given the fact that she came out of nowhere to be the EU 28’s chosen candidate after numerous other options were dismissed by leaders. 

If she is rejected by MEPs the EU’s leaders will be forced to go back to the drawing board – an unattractive prospect given it took three days of compromise talks to settle on Mrs von der Leyen.  

Her comments on the possibility of postponing Brexit will be welcomed by pro-EU groups in the UK because they suggest a No Deal Brexit is not necessarily inevitable. 

Her use of the phrase ‘good reasons’ is also likely to be interpreted as meaning either a second referendum or general election being held to break the Brexit deadlock. 

However, while her remarks give a good indication of the future direction of the EU, it will ultimately be up to Mr Juncker and the leaders of the EU member states to decide whether there should be a further Brexit delay. 

Mrs von der Leyen is due to take over from Mr Juncker on November 1, the day after the current Brexit deadline. 

Mrs von der Leyer, pictured alongside president of the European Council Donald Tusk, has stuck with the EU position that the current Brexit deal cannot be changed

Mrs von der Leyer, pictured alongside president of the European Council Donald Tusk, has stuck with the EU position that the current Brexit deal cannot be changed

Both Mr Johnson and his leadership rival Jeremy Hunt have committed to renegotiating the current Brexit deal. 

But Mr Johnson is the overwhelming favourite to win the keys to Downing Street with Mrs May’s successor due to be appointed on July 24. 

He has vowed to deliver Brexit with or without a deal on October 31 ‘do or die’. 

However, Brussels has so far been ice cold on the idea of making changes to the current divorce deal. 

Meanwhile, Mr Johnson’s fall back option of a No Deal Brexit faces fierce opposition in the House of Commons amid questions over whether he could actually get a disorderly split from the bloc through Parliament. 

Stephen Barclay, the Brexit Secretary, reportedly told Michel Barnier five times when they met last Tuesday that Mrs May’s deal is dead and said the Irish border backstop would have to be scrapped for an agreement to have any chance of being agreed by a majority of MPs. 

EU sources told The Sun that Mr Barclay appeared to use the meeting as a ‘job interview’ for a place in Mr Johnson’s future government as he seemingly tried to sound out the EU over the Tory front runner’s proposals. 

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