France would block a delay to Brexit unless it had a clear objective based on a new choice by the British, Emmanuel Macron has said.
Speaking at a joint press conference with German chancellor Angela Merkel in Paris, the French president became the first EU leader to categorically raise the possibility of blocking an extension to the Article 50 negotiating period.
We would support an extension request only if it was justified by a new choice of the British, he told reporters.
But we would in no way accept an extension without a clear objective.
France has a veto on an Article 50 extension because all EU countries must unanimously agree to an extension for one to happen.
Speaking at the roughly same time in Madrid, Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez warned that Theresa May would merely be “prolonging uncertainty” by requesting a short Brexit delay without a realistic plan.
Although Spain is not going to oppose the concession of an eventual extension, it must have a certain perspective of resolution, he said.
Prolonging uncertainty by postponing deadlines is not a reasonable nor desirable alternative.
Though the French president did not elaborate on what such a choice might entail, the EU has been pushing the UK to soften the terms of Brexit by renegotiating its future relationship.
Mr Macron’s statement also suggests time might be granted were the UK to decide to hold a second referendum, which Labour said it would back earlier this week.
Last week European Council president Donald Tusk said he believed an extension to Article 50 was a rational course of action for the UK to take, following a meeting with Theresa May. He however added that the prime minister still believed she could avoid an extension.