Estonia to take EU presidency from Britain

BRUSSELS: Estonia is set to take over the rotating EU presidency from Britain in late 2017 after London relinquished the role to focus on negotiations to leave the bloc, a spokesman for EU president Donald Tusk said on Wednesday.

In the first major step towards Brexit after last month’s shock referendum result, Prime Minister Theresa May announced on Wednesday that Britain would no longer take the position next July. Tusk’s spokesman told AFP there was "broad agreement" when EU ambassadors met in Brussels "that Estonia’s presidency be brought forward by six months to take the place of the UK".

He added that "subsequent presidencies, in the order they are currently foreseen, would all in turn be brought forward by six months", meaning that Bulgaria will now take over in January 2018.