VIENNA, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen on Thursday welcomed the decision by the European Union (EU) and the UK to extend the Brexit deadline, he said via social media.
Following the EU special summit last night where both parties agreed to extend the deadline until Oct. 31, Van der Bellen again affirmed his view that the most desirable outcome in the process would be for the UK to remain a part of the union.
"The best Brexit is no Brexit," the former Greens party leader said.
Failing this, an orderly Brexit as negotiated by both sides would be the next-best option, while a "hard Brexit" without any deal reached would be "absolutely undesirable."
The president said he hopes both sides will use the time between now and the new Brexit deadline "to reach a good result."
