 "Tusk says EU ready to start UK divorce 'today'")
European Union (EU) President Donald Tusk said on Tuesday that Donald Tusk is ready "today" to begin talks with Britain on leaving the bloc, as he arrived for a Brexit-dominated summit of leaders.
"Europe is ready to start the divorce process even today, without any enthusiasm, as you can imagine. This is not the scenario we were dreaming about," Tusk told reporters.
Following Thursday's referendum in which Britons voted to leave the European Union, London has to invoke the so-called Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, starting two years to negotiate the terms of its exit.
Tusk also suggested holding a summit of the 27 EU countries without Britain in September to discuss the bloc's future, saying leaders needed time to prepare.
"I will propose that we can hold an informal leaders meeting in September because we need a few weeks to prepare. Maybe the best place will be Bratislava," Tusk said, referring to the capital of Slovakia, which holds the EU's rotating presidency from July 1.
"Europe is ready to start the divorce process even today, without any enthusiasm, as you can imagine. This is not the scenario we were dreaming about," Tusk told reporters.
Following Thursday's referendum in which Britons voted to leave the European Union, London has to invoke the so-called Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, starting two years to negotiate the terms of its exit.
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But Prime Minister David Cameron has said that London will not take this step yet, saying on Monday that Britain needs first to "determine the kind of relationship we want with the EU."
Tusk also suggested holding a summit of the 27 EU countries without Britain in September to discuss the bloc's future, saying leaders needed time to prepare.
"I will propose that we can hold an informal leaders meeting in September because we need a few weeks to prepare. Maybe the best place will be Bratislava," Tusk said, referring to the capital of Slovakia, which holds the EU's rotating presidency from July 1.