The 27 remaining members will also hear a report from chief negotiator Michel Barnier on his talks with David Davis earlier this week, when the Brexit Secretary accepted a European timetable to put off talks on a future trade relationship until progress has been made on the terms of the divorce.
In a joint press conference with his British counterpart David Davis, Barnier said that they have agreed on the dates and on the priorities of the talks.
"My clear view - and I believe the view of the majority of people in Britain - is that we should prioritize protecting jobs, protecting economic growth and protecting prosperity as we enter into negotiations", he said.
The two sides agreed to initially hold a week of negotiations every month until a new structure is defined.
The bloc would first seek to reach an agreement on European Union citizens rights, the UK's departure bill, and the future border between the Republic of Ireland, an European Union member, and Northern Ireland, a British region.
But EU leaders say that before trade talks can begin they want to work out three other issues.
"My mandate is to defend the single market, defend the European Union, which the United Kingdom has made a decision to leave", Barnier told reporters after briefing ministers from EU member states in Luxembourg. "We must lift the uncertainty caused by Brexit", said Barnier. The leaders are also likely to shape more clarity on the UK-EU relationship post the exit and the nature of trade deals between them.
Top negotiators Barnier and Davis have declared the talks have gotten off to a "promising start".
Three negotiating groups will address agreed priorities on citizens' rights, finances and other technical matters which must be resolved to avoid a messy limbo after Brexit.
The move backfired, May lost her Conservative majority in the vote and has been fending off critics of her leadership ever since.
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Patrick McHenry, a North Carolina Republican who is filling in as whip, is hosting a two-day blood drive, which ends on Thursday. The update Wednesday also said Scalise is "beginning an extended period of healing and rehabilitation".
London will then make a detailed proposal next week, Davis said.
Those were, he said, the rights of expatriate citizens and problems of a new EU-U.K. border, notably cutting across Ireland.
But while citizens' rights and the UK's financial settlement with the European Union will be left to technical teams of officials, "a dialogue on Ireland/Northern Ireland has been launched under the authority of the Co-ordinators", according to the terms of reference for Brexit talks. We want to make sure that the withdrawal of the United Kingdom happens in an orderly manner.
Solving the vexed question of keeping the peace and an open border between the British province of Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic - an European Union member - will be an urgent priority in the talks, Mr Barnier and Mr Davis agreed.
Davis has said he was "encouraged by the constructive approach" as the talks began.
The top European Union negotiator, Michel Barnier, a former foreign minister of France, gave Davis a walking stick from his home region in the Alps.
Sabine Weyand, the EU's deputy chief negotiator, and Olly Robbins, the British prime minister's main adviser, will steer the discussions.
The EU and United Kingdom negotiators agreed to have one week of negotiations every month, while using the time in between to work on proposals and exchange them.
"We are looking to unravel 43 years of patiently built relations".
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