Good morning.
This special, truncated European summit edition of the Digest is brought to you from Dublin Airport, where officials, diplomats, journalists and other life forms are blearily assembling for the morning red-eye to Brussels. Specifically it is brought to you from the cafe in Terminal 2, which serves well-constructed, if characteristically overpriced, breakfasts.
As Digest readers will know, it is just over a week until the scheduled British exit from the EU under the article 50 process. Yesterday, British prime minister Theresa May signalled formally to the EU that she wished to extend that process until June 30th - a request that will be considered by the leaders of the 27 non-exiting EU countries when they meet in Brussels later today.
Last night, in a televised address from Number 10 Downing Street, Mrs May sought to put the blame on MPs for the proposed delay, with an extraordinary attack on parliament in which she urged them to say what Brexit, if any, they want.
Our lead story is here, and Denis Staunton's analysis is here, in which he points out that demonising the MPs she needs to win over might not be the smartest strategy for Mrs May.
Earlier, the prime minister had pledged to the House of Commons she would not extend the Brexit deadline further, leading to some speculation this might be her last throw of the dice. Of course, we’ve all said that before.
Before the Brexit date is extended at all, though, Mrs May must secure the agreement of her fellow EU leaders, whom she will address tonight before withdrawing and allowing them to discuss and decide on their approach.
The president of the European Council, Donald Tusk - who as chair of the council of leaders runs the summits - indicated the British must pass the withdrawal agreement in the Commons next week before an extension is granted, raising the prospect of a crash-out Brexit at the end of next week if Mrs May cannot (again) get parliamentary consent for her deal.
Few think that is a likely prospect, but the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, yesterday raised the prospect of it happening by accident - something he found sufficiently alarming to strike a noticeably softer note than Mr Tusk, saying that it was time to “cut the British some slack”.
Analysis of the situation on the ground in Brussels from our Europe Editor Paddy Smyth is here.
Our leader is here, and also related opinion pieces from Newton Emerson and Stephen Collins.
EU leaders begin the first formal session in mid-afternoon, continuing - possibly until late tonight - over dinner. We'll have updates throughout the day on irishtimes.com. It'll be a long and busy day. So have a good breakfast. And whatever you do, even if you're Theresa May, try to have a truly, Brexity, fruity day.
