TheCable

The office of Theresa May, the British Prime Minister, has told EU President Donald Tusk that Britain intends to give up its six-month presidency of the European council scheduled for next year.

The office said on Wednesday in London that the decision was taken because her government was expected to be occupied next year with negotiations on leaving the union.

It explained that EU countries took turns at holding the bloc’s presidency for six months at a time, while Slovakia currently holds the presidency.

It is scheduled to be followed by Malta from January to June 2017, Britain from July to December 2017 and Estonia from January to June 2018.