Estonia to assume EU presidency six months earlier

Estonia confirmed on Tuesday that following Brexit, Estonia will hold the presidency of the EU place half a year earlier, in the second half of 2017, according to Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR).

Estonian Prime Minister Taavi Roivas said that Estonia will take over the presidency of the Council of the EU when the union is faced with the task of making fundamental choices regarding its future.

"We will manage the coordination of the EU presidency occurring half a year early, just fine, and we will not make any concessions on quality," Roivas was quoted in the ERR report on Tuesday night, which however, failed to mention on what occasion the prime minister made the announcement.

It means that Estonia's presidency of the EU will no longer coincide with the nation's centennial as originally scheduled for the first half of 2018.

Shortly following British decision to leave the EU, Estonia said it would be ready to move up its scheduled presidency if needed. Preparations immediately began for the new period as well.

"The presidency (of the EU) is not something with which to play hot potato or haggle with its timing due to domestic affairs -- if necessary, then it must be done," stated the prime minister. "Now we have some final clarity and we can continue with already initiated preparations at an accelerated pace."

Downing Street confirmed on July 20, British Prime Minister Theresa May had told European Council President Donald Tusk that Britain will not take over the presidency next year.

Since a consensus could not be reached regarding the possibility for Belgium to take over British scheduled presidency, a proposal was made to shift all schedule forward by six months.

According to the new schedule, Estonia will be taking over the presidency from Malta, and will be followed in 2018 first by Bulgaria, then by Austria.

The presidency rotates between the 28 EU member states on a six-monthly basis, giving each the opportunity to shape the agenda. Endit