EU leaders express regret over Brexit

BRUSSELS, March 29 (KUNA) -- The European Council which represents the 27 heads of state or government of the EU received a letter Wednesday from the British Prime Minister Theresa May notifying her country's intention to leave the European Union.
The Council, in a statement, said this notification follows the referendum of June 23, 2016 and starts the withdrawal process under Article 50 of the Treaty.
"We regret that the United Kingdom will leave the European Union, but we are ready for the process that we now will have to follow," it said.
The statement noted that for the EU, the first step will now be the adoption of guidelines for the negotiations by the European Council.
These guidelines will set out the overall positions and principles in light of which the Union, represented by the European Commission, will negotiate with the United Kingdom, it said.
"Our first priority will be to minimize the uncertainty caused by the decision of the United Kingdom for our citizens, businesses and Member States. Therefore, we will start by focusing on all key arrangements for an orderly withdrawal," it said.
"We will approach these talks constructively and strive to find an agreement. In the future, we hope to have the United Kingdom as a close partner," it said.
The 27 EU leaders are to meet on 29 April to discuss the Brexit. Earlier, speaking at a press conference, the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk said he received the six-page notification by the UK government.
"There is no reason to pretend that this is a happy day neither in Brussels nor in London," he said. But he added that there is something positive in Brexit as it has made the EU "more determined and united than before." "There is nothing to win in this process for both sides and in essence this is about damage control," said Tusk.
He announced that on Friday he will share a proposal of the negotiating guidelines with the EU member states to be adopted by the EU summit on April 29. (end) nk.ma