The European Union's Brexit plans remain unchanged by Theresa May's snap election announcement, the council representing EU leaders has said.
UK Prime Minister Theresa May made the surprise announcement that there would be an early election last night. Photo: AFP
The UK prime minister, who had promised not to call an election before 2020, said last night (New Zealand time) she planned to call a snap general election on 8 June.
But European Council President Donald Tusk's spokesperson said the 27 other EU states would forge ahead as planned.
"The UK elections do not change our EU27 plans," he said.
"We expect to have the Brexit guidelines adopted by the European Council on 29 April and following that the Brexit negotiating directives ready on 22 May. This will allow the EU27 to start negotiations."
Mr Tusk and Mrs May had a "good" conversation on the phone following the announcement, the council president tweeted.
Theresa May speaking to media outside 10 Downing Street after she called the general election. Photo: AFP
An EU official on the negotiating team told the BBC that they were hopeful the outcome may even improve negotiations.
"This is a domestic matter for the UK. But we have some hope that this will lead to a strong leader in London that can negotiate with us with strong backing by the electorate," the official said.
"This does not change things. We are ready. Early June was always the calendar."
German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel echoed the sentiment, saying "predictability and reliability" were "more important than ever" in the wake of the Brexit vote.
But others were less positive, with many focusing on the risk Mrs May and the Conservatives were potentially taking.
Belgian MEP Tom Vandenkendelaere, of the centre-right European People's Party (EPP) grouping, tweeted: "Understandable choice to strengthen negotiation mandate for #Brexit, but at the same time huge gamble and risk of even greater instability."
Election move a 'huge political miscalculation' - Scotland PM
Nicola Sturgeon Photo: AFP
Scotland's first minister Nicola Sturgeon said Mrs May's plans were a "huge political miscalculation".
Ms Sturgeon said the move was an "extraordinary u-turn" by Mrs May, but that she relished the prospect of campaigning against the Tories.
And she said the Prime Minister was putting the interests of her party ahead of those of the country.
"Clearly she sees the opportunity, given the total disarray in the ranks of the Labour party, to crush all opposition to her, to get rid of people who disagree with her, and to give herself a free hand to take the country in the increasingly right-wing direction that she wants to take it in.
"That would mean not just the hardest possible Brexit, but more austerity and deeper cuts.
"So now is the time for Scotland's voice to be heard, and for people in Scotland to stand up for the kind of country we want Scotland to be - that is the campaign I look forward to leading in the weeks ahead."
Ms Sturgeon also said her position on a second independence referendum was "clear, and will continue to be clear throughout this campaign".
-BBC
