UK to relinquish planned EU presidency

The UK is to relinquish its planned six-month presidency of the European Council in preparation for exiting the EU, Downing Street said today.
The announcement came ahead of Prime Minister Theresa May's visit to Germany later today to hold talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the UK's plans to leave the European Union (EU) in the wake of last month's referendum.
A Downing Street spokesperson said, "The President of the European Council Donald Tusk called the Prime Minister yesterday evening to congratulate her on her appointment.
"The Prime Minister thanked President Tusk for the clear message he has given that the UK remains a full member of the EU until such a time as we leave and the Prime Minister underlined that she wants to approach the negotiations on the UK's exit from the European Union in a constructive and pragmatic spirit.

"In this context, 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.
"Donald Tusk welcomed the PM's swift decision on this issue which would allow the council to put alternative arrangements in place.

"Finally, the Prime Minister explained that we will need to carefully prepare for the negotiations to leave the EU before triggering Article 50. Donald Tusk reassured the Prime Minister that he will help to make this process happen as smoothly as possible.

"They concluded by looking forward to a strong working relationship and agreed that they should meet soon in Brussels or London," he said.
The presidency of the European Council rotates on a six-monthly basis, offeringeach of the EU's 28 member states the opportunity to shape the EU's agenda.
Slovakia is the current president, with Estonia set to follow the UK's slot.
Functionally, the president country chairs meetings of the council, where ministers and heads of states meet and alsosets a programme of work for the six-month period.
The UK was due to take over for the second half of 2017, but today's announcement indicates that May would have most likely triggered Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, beginning the formal two-year process of Brexit.

The new British premier will kick start the process with her working dinner in Berlin this evening with Merkel followed by talks with France's President Francois Hollande in Paris tomorrow.