IN the first tangible sign the Brexit process is underway, the UK Government has announced that Britain is to give up its presidency of the European Council next year.
Downing Street said Theresa May had informed Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council, in a telephone call on Tuesday.
The announcement from No 10 came as the Prime Minister prepared for her first Commons question time and ahead of her trip to meet her German counterpart Angela Merkel for the first time since succeeding David Cameron.
They will have a working dinner this evening before Mrs May has talks with France's Francois Hollande on Thursday.
The EU presidency rotates between the 28 member states on a six-monthly basis, giving each the opportunity to shape the agenda.
The UK was due to hold the seat in the second half of 2017 but the Prime Minister has decided that Britain should skip its turn in the light of last month's referendum vote for Brexit.
A Downing Street spokesman said that Mrs May told Mr Tusk that giving up the presidency was "the right thing to do given we will be very busy with negotiations to leave the EU".
The PM, he explained, felt it was right to give other EU nations time to make arrangements for a different country to be appointed to hold the presidency during that period.
No 10 said that Mr Tusk welcomed the fact that Mrs May had come to a swift decision on the issue.
The call was Mrs May's first conversation with the European Council president since becoming PM.
"The president of the European Council, Donald Tusk, called the Prime Minister yesterday evening to congratulate her on her appointment,” said the spokesman.
"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, he explained, Mrs May suggested the UK should relinquish the rotating presidency of the Council and explained the UK would need to prepare carefully for the Brexit negotiations.
“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," added the spokesman.
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