(VOVworld) – Following a summit in Brussels, on Thursday EU leaders held informal Brexit meeting during which they pledged to work closely with each other to ensure that the UK will not easily reach a departure deal, which could create a bad precedent for other members of the bloc.

Michel Barnier, EU Commission's chief negotiator on Britain's departure from the EU.  (Photo: AFP/VNA)

This is the second meeting of the 27 EU leaders without UK Prime Minister Theresa May. The Thursday meeting focused on the EU’s roles in the upcoming talks rather than discussing the content of the talks.

EU leaders reiterated that there would be no movement until Britain formally requests to leave - a process which British Prime Minister Theresa May has said will begin by the end of March 2017.

A joint communique was released at the end of the meeting, which underlined the EU’s determination to work together for a successful union and their readiness to speed up the negotiation process to tackle uncertainties arising from Britain's withdrawal scenario.

In her address to reporters, May welcomed EU leaders’ convening the meeting to discuss preparations for Brexit talks, considering it the right of Britain and its partners.