EU27 agree Brexit extension till Jan 31

European Council President Donald Tusk said on Monday that the European Union's (EU) 27 member states have agreed that they will accept Britain's request for a Brexit extension until Jan. 31, 2020.

"The decision is expected to be formalised through a written procedure," Tusk wrote on Twitter.

The announcement was made following a meeting of ambassadors of the 27 member states here earlier on Monday.

The official decision is expected to be formalized in the next two days.

In the upcoming extension period, the UK will have to appoint a European commissioner as it remains a member of the Union until the new withdrawal date, with full rights and obligations.

On Oct. 19, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson sent a letter to Tusk requesting a further extension of the Article 50 negotiating period until Jan. 31, 2020.

Hours earlier, UK lawmakers had voted for a key amendment to force Johnson to request the extension from the EU.

In a 322 to 306 vote, members of the UK Parliament (MPs) supported an amendment put forward by former Conservative MP Oliver Letwin to withhold parliamentary approval for Johnson's deal until the withdrawal bill implementing Brexit has been passed.