The European Union has now come out saying it wants the transition period after Brexit to end no later than the last day of 2020, while the UK say that are willing to be more flexible
Theresa May conceded that she would permit a short delay to Britain's departure from the European Union in exceptional circumstances, bowing to criticism from her own party over the government's plan to fix the exit date in law. The decision is a compromise with Conservative lawmakers who last week rebelled again against the Prime Ministers plans.
But the European Union has now come out saying it wants the transition period after Brexit to end no later than the last day of 2020, restricting Mrs. May's options.
That date had long been expected as the target endpoint of the transition, but this was the first official confirmation that it is the goal of the Union's negotiators.
