EU says UK will have to hold European elections if Brexit is delayed

The European Commission said on Friday that the UK would have to hold European elections in order to choose its representatives if Brexit is delayed beyond 2 July.

Although the Brexit day is set for 29 March, given the current state of negotiations in the British parliament, a delay could not be ruled out.

The possibility that the government might finally decide on such a delay had triggered a debate on whether Britain should take part in the European parliamentary elections.

European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas told reporters on Friday that the UK still had not requested for such delay in the deadline.

“We ... as the guardian of EU treaties, suggest caution with any suggestion that the right of EU citizens to vote in the European Parliament elections, according to the rules that are applicable, could be called into question,” Schinas said.

“We have a legally composed European Parliament which requires directly elected MEPs from all member states at the latest on the first day."