Mubasher: The European Union (EU) agreed to grant the UK another three months to leave the bloc, CNBC reported.

“The EU27 has agreed that it will accept the UK’s request for a Brexit flextension until 31 January 2020,” European Council President Donald Tusk said.

This would allow the UK to exit the EU at any time before next January, as long as the departure agreement, clinched by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, wins the approval of the House of Commons.

The announcement followed a meeting between the 27 European ambassadors in Brussels, where they signed off on a third extension.

Earlier, London asked the EU earlier in the month for an extension to the 31 October deadline.

Later on, UK lawmakers voted in favour of Premier Johnson’s adjusted deal, but said that it needed more time to approve all the necessary legislation.

“With a view to allowing for the finalisation of all steps necessary for the ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement, including the obtaining of the consent of the European Parliament, the European Council agrees to a further extension,” a draft document ahead of the ambassador meeting was quoted by CNBC.

However, Brussels is set to dismiss any future renegotiation on the UK’s terms of departure.

“The European Council firmly states that it excludes any reopening of the Withdrawal Agreement in the future and recalls that any unilateral commitment, statement or other act by the United Kingdom should be compatible with the letter and the spirit of the Withdrawal Agreement, and must not hamper its implementation,” the document said.