UK Presidency of the Council of the European Union

Thursday 21st July 2016 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union (Mr David Davis)]

The UK had been scheduled to host the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2017. On 19 July the Prime Minister confirmed to President of the European Council Donald Tusk that the UK would be relinquishing the presidency of the Council of the European Union, noting that we would be prioritising the negotiations to leave the EU.

President Tusk welcomed the Prime Minister’s swift decision which would allow the Council to put alternative arrangements in place. The Council secretariat will now put in motion the arrangements to allocate the presidency to an alternative member state.

The Prime Minister and President Tusk concluded by looking forward to a strong working relationship.

Attachments can be viewed online at http://www.parliament. uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2016-07-21/HCWS119/

[HCWS119]