Estonia will take over Britain’s vacated turn at the helm of the EU’s rotating presidency after Theresa May announced that she would give up the six-month role to focus on Brexit.
The Baltic state was due to succeed Britain at the start of 2018, but will instead step in six months earlier, writes Duncan Robinson in Brussels.
Although Belgium had been tipped take over Britain’s slot, this move was blocked by an alliance of eastern European countries, according to officials. The presidency is currently held by Slovakia.
All future presidencies will move forward by six months. The decision will provide a headache for government bureaucrats across Europe, who plan for presidencies years in advance.
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