Great Britain, after a referendum last month in which citizens supported the country's exit from the European Union, gave up the EU presidency, which it was supposed to take over next year, and EU ambassadors will meet today to decide which country will replace Great Britain.
The office of British Prime Minister Theresa May informed the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, about that decision last night in a telephone conversation, AFP reported.
"The Prime Minister decided that the United Kingdom should give up the rotating presidency of the Council, which it was supposed to hold in the second half of 2017, explaining that Britain should make negotiations on exiting the European Union a priority," the spokeswoman said. the Prime Minister's residence in Downing Street.
"Donald Tusk welcomed the Prime Minister's quick decision on this matter, which will enable the Council to take alternative measures in time," the spokeswoman pointed out.
The spokesman of the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Didije Vanderhaselt, said that Belgium is ready to take over the six-month EU presidency from Great Britain.
"Belgium is ready to take over the presidency, if we are asked to do so," Vanderhaselt told AFP.
The presidency of the Council is held by a different EU member state every six months, and EU ambassadors will meet later today to decide which country will replace Great Britain.
Slovakia currently holds the presidency of the EU, and from January 1, 2017, the presidency will be taken over by Malta.
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