The Commission’s chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, outlined to the Council, in EU27 format, the state of play in the Brexit process. On this basis, ministers discussed the next steps on Brexit ahead of the special meeting of the European Council (Article 50) of 10 April.
On 5 April Theresa May, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, sent a letter to Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, asking for a further extension to the Article 50 period. She proposed the date of 30 June 2019, adding that the UK government would continue to prepare to hold European Parliament elections should the UK still be a member at the time of the elections.