The European Union has postponed its summer summit by a week so it will not coincide with the June 23 British referendum on continued EU membership.

Originally, the 28 leaders would have had the first day of their two-day gathering on referendum day. Instead the office of EU President Donald Tusk announced Friday the days were moved to June 28-29 instead.

The British referendum has become a key day in the EU because a possible departure of Britain would have a fundamental political and economic impact on the bloc.