Arsthbt

As I understand it, the EU27 leadership made the UK a conditional offer with various options to extend the Article 50 negotiation period. Who has to act to accept and enact the extension?

• Can the UK government accept it on behalf of the UK or do they legally need an act of parliament first?




• Once the UK selects one option, do the EU27 governments have to formally accept it or has this acceptance been given in advance? Do any of the EU27 governments need parliamentary approval before they can act?




• Can this be done by phone or does it require physical letters which must be delivered and accepted?

The European Council has already agreed to both dates so they don’t need to ratify anything any more.

A new UK Act isn’t required. The UK Government can put forward a Statutory Instrument to amend the existing Withdrawal Act. This does need to pass both Houses of Parliament but this is unlikely to be blocked.

In both cases, confirmation in writing will be given but that’s just a formality.

Which date applies depends on whether the Withdrawal Agreement bill is passed by the UK Parliament.

If it is then a May 22nd date will apply to allow all the necessary legislation to be passed.

If not then the UK Government have till April 11th to come up with a new plan or the UK will leave without a deal.

The need an act of parliament. No so much because the change in the withdrawal act, but because they made a law in the UK which mentions that the UK will leave the EU on March 29. That law needs to be withdrawn or modified. It's unclear ("legal confusion" below) what happens if parliament rejects this.

The BBC has a nice graph:

Note that unilateral revocation by simple letter of the Prime Minister remains an option.

(I believe that since the Electronic Communications Act email counts as "in writing" for all cases where that is legally required. I don't know if international agreements have to be in writing because this kind of temporal brinksmanship rarely comes up)