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Finnish PM backs giving UK a Brexit extension

Published October 20,2019
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The prime minister of Finland, whose country holds the European Union's rotating presidency, says "it makes sense to allow extra time" for London to deal with the negotiated Brexit agreement to avoid a no-deal Brexit.

Johnson sent an unsigned letter to the European Union late Saturday seeking a delay to Britain's impending Oct. 31 departure from the bloc, as required by British law, to Jan. 31, 2020. But he followed it with a signed letter indicating that he does not favor another Brexit extension, which he says would be against the interests of EU and British citizens as well as businesses.

Finnish Prime Minister Antti Rinne says Sunday that "Finland, along with other EU nations, attaches great importance to the approval of the resignation agreement negotiated with Britain."

Rinne said the president of the European Council, Donald Tusk, will talk with the EU's 27 leaders about the British request to delay Brexit.