Downing Street has brushed off being excluded from a dinner at this week’s EU summit that will be attended by the leaders of the other 27 member states.
Theresa May’s official spokesperson said it was “reasonable” that EU countries met to discuss preparations for Brexit talks without the UK present.
The Prime Minister travels to Brussels on Thursday for the regular European Council meeting after which the heads of other member states will hold informal talks about their position on Brexit.
The spokesperson said: "The fact there is a meeting of the 27 reflects that we are leaving the European Union and, as we embark on that process, we have been very clear that while the UK needs to prepare for the negotiations, so too do the EU 27 and obviously a meeting in that format on Thursday evening, will give them an opportunity to discuss their approach.
"The UK is leaving the European Union, we’ve been taking the time to prepare for the negotiations because we want to have a smooth and orderly departure.
"Those remaining in the EU also need to have discussions about how they’re going to handle the departure process. That’s reasonable, as I said, we would expect that."
The spokesperson stressed that it remained Ms May’s view that any business affecting the whole of the EU should be conducted with the UK present.
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