Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar says some European Union leaders were against giving Britain a delay to Brexit, but agreed out of solidarity with others in the bloc.
Varadkar says EU nations that lie farther from the UK "are kind of sick of this" and were reluctant to prolong the Brexit process any further.
But Ireland and other neighbours of Britain are intent on avoiding a chaotic and economically disruptive U.K. departure. He says the doubters "came with us in the end because of European solidarity."
EU leaders agreed late Thursday to give British lawmakers a few more weeks to try to approve the divorce deal that British Prime Minister Theresa May has struck with the bloc.
Varadkar told reporters the extension "gives a little breathing space" for Britain to decide among three options: "no deal, the withdrawal agreement or a much closer relationship with the EU." He says "I honestly don't know what the most likely option is."
European Council President Donald Tusk is happy about the outcome of the Brexit summit but says there's nothing more the EU can do to help Prime Minister Theresa May.
At the end of a two-day summit in Brussels, Tusk said that "the fate of Brexit is in the hands of our British friends." Tusk, who chaired the meeting of EU leaders, said "we are prepared for the worst but hope for the best. As you know, hope dies last." May resumes her political battle in the U.K. Parliament to win the endorsement of the Brexit deal she agreed to with EU leaders in November.
The leaders have accepted to delay Brexit from March 29 until May 22 if the British leader succeeds. Should she fail, the EU has given her until April 12 to come up with some new approach.
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