EU Leaders due to meet next week to discuss UK referendum decision

A British passport is pictured in front of an European Union flag in this photo illustration taken in Brussels, Belgium, June 20, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

Leaders from 28 European Union member states will meet on June 28 and 29 to discuss the outcome of the UK's referendum on whether to leave the bloc, the outcome of which will be known on Friday morning.

The high-level meeting is one response among many announced by European Union leaders and institutions grappling to find the best way forward after the EU found itself at its biggest crossroads since the organization took shape in the aftermath of World War II.

Ahead of next week's summit, European Council President Donald Tusk, European Parliament President Martin Schulz, Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker will meet at 10:30 am on Friday to seek a consensus on how to deal with the outcome of the referendum.

Schulz is also expected to give a speech in the immediate aftermath of the referendum result being made public, and opinions from various parties represented in the European Parliament are also likely to be expressed.

At the summit next week, the leaders will also conduct other business - reviewing issues around mass migration, endorsing country-specific recommendations related to economic development, and assessing the first results from the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) under the Investment Plan for Europe.

The European Council will also discuss EU-NATO cooperation ahead of an upcoming NATO Summit in Warsaw and may address other specific foreign policy issues, especially after the EU updated its position on China on June 22 ahead of the Sino-EU summit in Beijing, which is set for next month.

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How We Got Here

The following is a summary of key events on the road to the UK's referendum on whether to stay in the EU.

June 25-26, 2015: UK Prime Minister David Cameron sets out his plans to hold an in/out referendum and the European Council agrees to consider the issue in December. Ahead of the meeting, President Donald Tusk holds bilateral talks with Cameron.

Sept 24, 2015: Following an informal meeting of EU leaders on Sept 23 on migration and refugees, Tusk and Cameron hold a bilateral meeting to discuss the state of play on the UK's referendum.

Oct 15, 2015: The European Council is briefed on the process ahead concerning the referendum and Cameron indicates he will set out the UK's specific concerns in writing by early November.

Nov 10, 2015: In a letter to Tusk, Cameron sets out the four areas in which he is seeking reform of the EU.

Dec 7, 2015: Tusk addresses a letter to the European Council on the issue of the referendum and the concerns of the British people.

Dec 17, 2015: The European Council debates the UK's plan to hold a referendum and agrees to find solutions to UK concerns at the February meeting in four areas (economic governance, competitiveness, sovereignty, and social benefits and the free movement of people).

Feb 2, 2016: Tusk puts forward a proposal for a settlement that addresses concerns raised by Cameron. This is the basis to negotiate a compromise with all 28 member states and reach an agreement at the European Council on Feb 18 and 19. It is hoped that concessions offered to the UK will help Cameron persuade the British people to remain in the EU.

Feb 2 to 18, 2016: Tusk and his team hold intense consultations with Cameron, envoys and permanent representatives from all 28 member states to secure broad political support for solutions to all unresolved issues.

Feb 18 and 19, 2016: Following intense negotiations, EU leaders achieve a deal that strengthens Britain's special status in the EU. It is a legally binding and irreversible decision made by all 28 leaders. This kicks off the four-month campaign ahead of the UK's in/out referendum held on June 23.

Contact the reporter at fujing@chinadaily.com