They will use the “incredible amount of time” saved to focus on future relationship with the EU and other countries – including trade deals.

Ministers will only attend big summits and those covering essential interests like security.  The rest will be ignored, sending a clear message that Britain is serious about quitting at the end of October.

Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay said: “An incredible amount of time and effort goes into EU meetings with attendance just the tip of the iceberg.

“Our diligent, world-class officials also spend many hours preparing for them whether in reading the necessary papers or working on briefings.

“From now on we will only go to the meetings that really matter, reducing attendance by over half and saving hundreds of hours.

“This will free up time for Ministers and their officials to get on with preparing for our departure on October 31 and seizing the opportunities that lie ahead.”

With Brexit due in 72 days, many discussions in EU meetings will be about the future of the Union after the UK has left, making British participation irrelevant, say officials.

Work on preparations, new trade deals and promoting a Global Britain are cited as the new top priorities.

Government sources say the decision is not intended to frustrate the functioning of the EU but to reflect the reality of the UK’s imminent departure.