EU27 governments earlier sent copies of the deal to the Strasbourg-based parliament in the hope of concluding the bloc’s ratification process this week. A vote was expected to take place on Thursday afternoon but last week’s chaos in Westminster has plunged the whole process into doubt. Senior Belgian MEP Philippe Lamberts said the EU institution will not vote on the newly-minted agreement this week while it waits for proceedings to conclude in Westminster. 

He said: “Unless the British parliament can ratify this week, which I understand is rather difficult, I do not see the point in scheduling the vote this week.

“Until I see a legal act that confirms that the UK has ratified, then we should not ratify. The EP will ratify in due course and ‘in due course’ means after the British parliament does.”

Guy Verhofstadt said the EU Parliament shouldn’t act until the deal is “fully ratified” in Westminster.

Instead, MEPs could be asked to attend an emergency session next week to finally ratify the Brexit withdrawal agreement in Brussels.

But the European Green’s Terry Reintke hinted that the EU Parliament could hold-off until November before giving its consent.

Raising the prospect of another Brexit delay, the MEP said: “It could also be postponed to one of the November plenaries if the deadline is extended.”

Downing Street anticipates a Remainer plot by the Labour Party to amend the Withdrawal Agreement Bill to include a permanent customs union and second referendum.

Express.co.uk understands that MEPs could launch their own audacious attempts to amend the Brexit deal with their own requests.

EU sources, however, have said the chances of such of such wrecking amendments are “highly unlikely”.

Political leaders in the EU Parliament will meet this evening in Strasbourg to decide on whether the institution will take a vote during this week’s once-monthly plenary sessions in the French town.

Article 26 of the Brexit Steering Group’s recent resolution states “that it will not proceed with any consent vote until the UK Parliament has approved the agreement with the EU”.

But senior MEPs could also ask for more time to assess the Brexit agreement between EU leaders and Mr Johnson, according to sources.

However if the Prime Minister can force his deal past MPs in the next two days, EU Parliament officials could launch their own last-ditch effort to ratify the agreement.

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Mr Lamberts said: “It can be a little rushed in the European Parliament if it comes to that.”

Meanwhile in Brussels, it has emerged that the EU’s most senior officials have ignored Mr Johnson’s ploy to scupper any Brexit delay.

The Prime Minister refused to sign a copy of the letter requesting an Article 50 extension to Donald Tusk.

European Commission officials said the Prime Minister’s approach has “no consequences” as the bloc accepted the request over the weekend.

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Mr Johnson was forced send a letter to the EU requesting an extension until January 31, 2020 after a Remainer plot in Parliament on Saturday blocked a vote on his newly-minted Brexit deal.

He refused to sign the memo, instead forwarding a photocopy of the letter as mandated under the Benn Act.

Despite sending a separate letter stating that he does not want an extension, which he claimed would “damage the interests of the UK and our EU partners”, Brussels has accepted Mr Johnson’s request.

A European Commission spokeswoman said: “We have taken note of the House of Commons vote on Saturday and the UK’s request to extend Article 50 until January 31, 2020.

“President Tusk is now consulting leaders of the EU27 on this and it is first and foremost for the UK to explain the next steps.

“We from our side, of course, follow all the events in London this week very closely.”

When asked whether the Prime Minister’s refusal to sign the extension letter, the official added: “This form does not change anything.”

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