PARIS, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- European Parliament (EP) President David Sassoli on Wednesday said a fresh delay to the Brexit deadline was "on the table," adding that it was "desirable" that the European Council accept London's request.
"After the vote in the British Parliament to allow more time to examine details of the withdrawal agreement and Prime Minister Boris Johnson's decision to pause the bill following the vote, the British government's request for an extension until Jan. 31 remains on the table," said Sassoli.
"I think it is desirable, as requested by President Donald Tusk, that the European Council should accept this extension," he said in a statement released while European lawmakers were meeting in a plenary session in Strasbourg.
The EP chief noted that "this extension will allow the UK to clarify its position and the European Parliament to exercise its role."
On Tuesday, British MPs rejected Johnson's bid to set a tight three-day schedule to approve a Brexit deal he struck with EU leaders last week.
After his defeat in Parliament, Johnson called on the EU to consider the UK's request for a delay beyond Oct. 31.
According to France's Secretary of State for European Affairs Amelie de Montchalin, her country was open to a technical extension of "several days" to allow the UK's amicable divorce from the EU. However, she would not offer more time to renegotiate the withdrawal accord.
"We have lost too much time, we have found a deal and it must be implemented now without delay in order to stop the uncertainty which is punishing millions of citizens and businesses," the minister told the French Senate on Tuesday evening.
Britons voted to leave the EU in a 2016 referendum. Brexit was initially scheduled for March 29, 2019.
