EU Summit on Brexit opens

On June 29, the EU will hold a meeting with only the leaders of its 27 member states without the participation of British Prime Minister David Cameron to discuss Brexit.

On the night of June 28, Vietnam time, European Union (EU) leaders began a two-day summit in Brussels (Belgium) to discuss the consequences after the majority of British voters voted to leave the EU (Brexit).

British Prime Minister David Cameron attended the first day of the meeting. Television images showed the British leader entering the meeting room and having brief discussions with several leaders of EU member states. Earlier, shortly after arriving in Brussels, Mr Cameron declared his desire for Britain to have the "closest possible" relationship with the EU after the majority of voters in the country backed Brexit.

“This afternoon, I will explain to EU leaders that Britain is leaving the European Union, but I want that process to be constructive because when we leave the EU, we cannot turn our backs on the European Union – our ‘neighbours, friends, allies and partners’ will seek the ‘closest possible’ relationship with the EU in areas such as trade, cooperation and security because that is ‘good for Britain as well as the EU’,” Mr Cameron said.

European Council President Donald Tusk announced on June 29 that the EU will hold a meeting of only the leaders of the 27 member states without the participation of British Prime Minister David Cameron to discuss Brexit: “First of all, I would like to say that while respecting the will of the British voters, we must also respect our treaties. The British government is the one who wants to leave the European Union first. This is a legal process, so we need to be patient if such an event occurs. This is not the desired scenario but we are ready for it. But we would like to emphasize that, without notification from the British side, there will be no negotiation on the UK's exit from the European Union or on the future relationship between the UK and the EU.”

In addition, this meeting may discuss necessary reforms in the EU to maintain the unity of the bloc. Mr. Donald Tusk added that another summit of the remaining 27 member states may take place in September in Bratislava when Slovakia holds the rotating EU presidency from July to the end of this year./.

According to VOV