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EU to Discuss Instead-of-UK Presidency in Council of European Union

© REUTERS / Francois LenoirEuropean Council President Donald Tusk gestures as he briefs the media after Britain voted to leave the bloc, in Brussels, Belgium, June 24, 2016.
European Council President Donald Tusk gestures as he briefs the media after Britain voted to leave the bloc, in Brussels, Belgium, June 24, 2016. - Sputnik International
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Permanent representatives of the EU member states will discuss later on Wednesday, which country will take on the presidency of the Council of the European Union next year instead of the United Kingdom, a spokesman for European Council President Donald Tusk said.

BRUSSELS (Sputnik) – The current head of the body is Slovakia which will be replaced by Malta in early 2017. 

"I can confirm that [UK Prime Minister Theresa] May informed Tusk yesterday evening during their phone call of their decision to relinquish the UK presidency. Now, member states will discuss and decide on who will replace the UK next year. A COREPER [Committee of Permanent Representatives] discussion [will take place] today," Preben Aamann told RIA Novosti.

Britain's Prime Minister, Theresa May, speaks outside number 10 Downing Street, in central London - Sputnik International
UK to Give Up 2017 Presidency of European Council in Light of Brexit Vote
EU member states are head the Council of the European Union for six months on a rotational basis. The United Kingdom was set to take over the presidency after Malta in the second half of 2017.

On June 23, the United Kingdom held a referendum to determine whether or not the country should leave the European Union.

According to the final results, 51.9 percent of voters, or 17.4 million people, decided to support Brexit.

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