Britain will no longer take on the rotating EU presidency as planned next year, relinquishing the role in the wake of the Brexit vote, Prime Minister Theresa May’s office said on Wednesday.
May informed European Council president Donald Tusk of her decision in a phone call on Tuesday evening, their first since she took over from David Cameron last week.
“The Prime Minister suggested that the UK should relinquish the rotating Presidency of the Council, currently scheduled for the second half of 2017, noting that we would be prioritising the negotiations to leave the European Union,” a Downing Street spokeswoman said.
“Donald Tusk welcomed the Prime Minister’s swift decision on this issue which would allow the council to put alternative arrangements in place.” The presidency of the Council -- the gathering of national ministers from the EU’s 28 member states -- rotates among members every six months.