The original deadline, set by the triggering of Article 50 of the EU constitution two years ago, was March 29. The EU granted a request by the U.K. for an extension of that deadline. The extension was actually in two parts: one extension, of May 22, would apply if the U.K. Parliament approved a plan for Brexit, as the U.K. exit of the EU has been called; the other extension, of April 12, would apply if Parliament did not approve such a plan by the original deadline. Parliament did not agree to a deal by March 29, and so the April 12 deadline stands.

U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May has, in recent days, engaged in discussions with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, in hopes of breaking the deadlock that has kept May's deal from passing Parliament. May's Conservative Party does not have a majority in Parliament and so must depend on members of other parties to approve the deal that May hammered out with EU negotiators weeks ago. That support has so far been lacking.

May has scheduled meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, ahead of a Wednesday meeting of the European Council. May has ask the EU for another extension, to June 30. As before, agreement of every other member of the EU would be necessary to approve another extension.

On Monday, Parliament gave itself the power to force May to consult with lawmakers before those meetings with other heads of state take place.

Meanwhile, the U.K. government has said that it has taken the necessary steps for U.K. voters to be able to take part in European Parliament elections, which are scheduled for May 26.