Brexit extended to October 31: why the EU chose a six-month reprieve for its awkward partner

As the Brexit endgame moves further away from the initial 29th March deadline, not much has changed since the latest extension: Theresa May is a weak PM who has been unable to build domestic consensus around her Brexit redlines and whose Brexit agenda has been taken over by a parliament that cannot make up its mind about what relationship post-Brexit Britain will have with the EU. The EU remains in the driving seat and is willing to show flexibility as long as the European interest is protected. However, the EU's is trapped by its commitment to avoid a no deal scenario, and it makes it almost impossible for the EU27 to prevent any further extension of the negotiation process should the UK request it.