Belgian Diplomat to Head European Council’s Brexit Task Force

Belgian diplomat and long-time EU official Didier Seeuws, who was chief of staff during Herman Van Rompuy’s tenure as EU Council chairman, will organize the process of Britain’s pullout under Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, according to media.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Belgian diplomat and long-time EU official Didier Seeuws will head a European Council’s task force negotiating Britain’s EU exit, a Belgian public broadcaster reported Saturday.

Brits voted in a referendum on Thursday to leave the European Union, prompting the European Council to call a two-day emergency summit of 27 EU leaders next week.

Seeuws, who was chief of staff during Herman Van Rompuy’s tenure as EU Council chairman, will organize the process of Britain’s pullout under Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, according to VRT broadcaster.

Britain has been urged to invoke the EU law as soon as possible to protect the rest of Europe from the fallout of its decision, but Prime Minister David Cameron said he wanted a new British leadership to take on this task.