The institutions of the European Union will be able to set up a 48-hour response to the outbreak of Brexit, assured on Friday the European Council President Donald Tusk.
The British Prime Minister, Theresa May, reiterated Thursday it would invoke before the end of the month, Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, a necessary step to start the exit process of Britain from the EU.
Divorce proceedings, which complies with the vote by the British in the Brexit referendum of 23rd June 2016, is expected to take two years.
“We are ready for this whole procedure and it is clear to me that we will be ready within 48 hours,” said Donald Tusk at a press conference.
Discussions on the date of the summit
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, present in Brussels for a European Council held on Thursday and Friday, said that EU leaders would meet again once it is known the release date of Brexit.
“If the letter (of London) arrives next week, the summit will be held on the 6th April”, she has told the press.
“If it’s later than next week, then we’ll find a date other than April 6th” , she added, noting that the exact date of initiation of the process between now and the end of March was little importance.
In diplomatic circles in Brussels, however, it was noted that this summit should be held before the 15th May because it is the day of the handover in Paris between Hollande and his successor, who will be elected on May 7th.
