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Increasingly clear for EU a short extension means until 23 May as European Commission has long been insisting. This is because of elections for European Parliament on that day /1
If UK wants longer extension it’d have to participate in elex for European Parliament. This isn’t churlishness on part of EU. There’s legal concern if UK remains EU member after 23May (it does as long as #Brexit delayed) but doesn’t contest elex then EP wld be unconstitutional /2
If PM goes for short extension till 23 May but then decides needs longer ext, she has to tell EU by 12 April - the date by which time UK would need to organise legally and practically taking part in elex for European Parliament .. so short ext could be really short /4
Which is why in EU they say it’s easier to shorten a long extension than lengthen a short one .. /5
NB That doesn’t mean EU is keen on longer extension. Leaders are so v v keen put #Brexit process behind them (though in orderly way ie avoiding no deal). They want to concentrate on other EU business + start trade talks with UK. Can. legally only do that once UK outside bloc /4
