[Blog] Fifty ways to leave your lover: the long goodbye

By a Decision adopted on 11 April 2019, the European Council – under the patient and saintly leadership of Donald Tusk – agreed to grant the UK a second extension to Article 50 TEU either until 31 October 2019, or, an earlier date (if the Withdrawal Agreement is ratified) or until 31 May 2019 if the UK fails to hold elections to the European Parliament. The UK has in fact put in place an Order to facilitate the organisation of the elections to the European Parliament. The Preamble to the Decision acknowledges that if the Withdrawal Agreement is ratified, the date of the UK’s departure from the EU may be earlier: