DUBLIN, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Irish government issued a statement on Monday, welcoming the decision of the European Union (EU) to grant Britain another Brexit extension, reported local media.
Earlier on Monday, European Council President Donald Tusk announced that the EU 27 member states had agreed to accept Britain's request for a Brexit extension until Jan. 31, 2020 with an option for Britain to leave the bloc earlier if the Withdrawal Agreement is ratified by the British parliament before then.
Irish national radio and television broadcaster RTE quoted the government statement as saying: "This averts the risk of a disruptive 'no deal' Brexit. The decision extends the deadline to the end of January, but allows for an earlier exit by the UK if ratification is completed quickly."
"We hope the extra time will be used to ensure that the Withdrawal Agreement agreed between UK and EU27 is ratified, enabling an orderly Brexit," said the statement.
The report quoted a European source as saying that the next step would be for London to formally accept the extension, after which the decision is expected to be formalized through a written procedure.
"We hope for this to be concluded by Tuesday or Wednesday," said the source.
The report also said that the extension decision is based on two conditions that London must nominate a senior official to serve on the next European Commission and must agree that the Withdrawal Agreement it struck with the EU last month will not be renegotiated.
